BellaOnline Forums Hobbies and Crafts Doll Making Dolls For Boys?

Hello All,

The latest article on the Doll Making Site is Dolls For Boys?. I'd love to hear your opinion on this topic. Let us know what you think.

Helen,

I made my son and my grandson cloth dolls when they were little and they loved them. The one for my grandson was large enough to wear his baby clothes and he carried that doll all over with him until he was about four. My son's doll was also a cloth doll and had a very happy face. It was a bit smaller, but I made jeans and t-shirts for it an bought TV bootees for it (remember those?). For my great-great nephew's first Christmas, I made him a little clown doll, dressed in an outfit that was half black with white dots and the other half white with black dots. It was a one piece clown-type jumpsuit. The boys loved their dolls and were never far from them. They gave them comfort during nap times and at night, something to cuddle and talk to.

I think dolls for boys are just fine.

Great article!

This was a huge subject for me as a kid LOL - I was enraged that I was not allowed to have dolls, but my cousins were because they were 'girls.' I'm all for it - why shouldn't boys have dolls? If a girl is a tom boy and plays with cars it's viewed in a very different and more positive light.
I always get the distinct impression parents will refuse their sons dolls etc because they feel it will somehow effect his lifestyle in the future, which of course, is utter nonsence. When I was a kid I wanted a little mermaid doll so badly, so when I was an adult - I bought it LOL. It was kind of cleansing for me HAHA. If I'd have had it as a kid, I probably would have grown bored with it (maybe not), but the insistance that I couldn't made me want one all the more LOL.
I don't think there should be any holds put on what a child can play with, or what he/she wants in the toy area. It's like saying pink was only created for girls. Or that God placed flowers in the ground only for women, it's society telling us what to do.
I think dolls for boys is a great idea - the problem is parents and other ppls views on it. Great idea though

Great article, Helen. Even nowadays, I think that little boys are still made to really toe the line in regards to gender behavior -- and back when I was a kid? I think that G.I. Joe was about the only socially acceptable doll that a boy could be seen with. It might take a while to gain acceptance overall, but I think dolls for boys could be a very good idea. It probably encourages nurturing like you said, and empathy as well.

Hi Guys,

Phyllis - Thanks and I'm so glad you made dolls for the boys in your life, too.

Steven - I always thought it was "utter nonsense" that having a doll would effect my sons future lifestyle, but there was no trying to change the minds of the men in my life at the time. Fortunately time has proved you and me correct. Thanks for your input and I'm sorry you never got your doll as a kid.

Karm - Thanks for the complement and your input. From my experience having a doll definitely did encourage nurturing and empathy in my sons.

Does anyone have any other examples or opinions? I'd love to hear about your story.

I have three younger brothers, all grown with children of their own now, each one of them received a baby doll for their first Christmas (my idea of course). Luckily both of my parents agreed that little boys who play with dolls make better Daddies when they grow up. I can say that each one of my brothers are great fathers. My youngest child and only son loves baby dolls. At almost three years, this year HE requested his own American Girl doll so that he could play dollies with his 9 year old sister. I was not prepared to spend $100 on one for him to carry around like his other babies(ALL of them are named BABY) so I found a Madame Alexander at Good Will and he loves her to death. I offered to "change" her into a HIM and he refused. He is going to be the best Daddy to my future grandchildren.

That's a really sweet story Joanne I guess some children are just more nurturing and that's why they play certain games and so on - I don't see the need to analyze everything to a silly stage either.

I got my doll in the end LOL - I was an adult and I saw it in a shop and thought, right, I'm getting one - it was Ariel from the little mermaid LOL.

I don't have a problem with "guy" dolls for them, like soldiers. But that is my limit. Great post! Angela

Helen,

I think boys and girls should be allowed to play with the types of toys that they want to without pressure from adults. Why shouldn't boys play with baby dolls? Don't we want them to practice being good daddies? Childhood is a time to explore interests through pretend play. It helps them become more comfortable with themselves. It does not turn them into something they are not. So, I don't see the problem. I think there is more of a problem created when by people placing gender restrictions on toys. I think it will teach children to be uncomfortable with parts of their personality and make them feel as if something is wrong with them if they want to play with those toys.

Great question! Interesting to see the opinions.

I apologize to all of you, I was not ignoring you, I was unable to log onto my internet account for the last week. But I'm back and so happy to see this discussion!

Thank-you all for your input. It is interesting to see the different opinions and takes on this topic.

As a youngster.. I to had the classic G.I Joe.. Until my grandmother found it and threw it into their burning garbage pit.. For some odd reason.. she didn't like the fact the boys play with dolls. In some since of the word.. it is true that boys shouldn't play with dolls (In the classic doll form) Later I turned to metal or die cast figurines.. I would have to say this is the closet thing to dolls there is.. Thou for little hands.. the metal or die cast figurines would be a bit risky.. if and when your child is ready.. try the plastic figures to begin with.. then as they get older move more towards the metal figures. In a since.. as the grow.. introduce paints and paint techniques in creating a accurate looking and weathered figure.. which is slowing becoming a lost art..

Well...I am here to say that the dolls I made for my son and grandson proved to be a very good thing for both boys. Both my son, who is an adult and has a child, and my grandson are very nurturing and loving souls. I think when a boy has the chance to love a doll and cuddle it, positive feelings towards real babies and other people begin to cultivate within them. The dolls I made were cloth, soft and cuddly. The boys saw the dolls as friends and buddies to share secrets with, to hold on to in times of fear or insecurity (like when they had to be with babysitters, or when they had to go to the doctor, dentist, etc.).

There is far too much worry and concern placed on gender oriented toys for children in my opinion. If you think about it, girls turn out to be naturally nurturing and loving adults because they were allowed to act like a parent/caregiver when young. Boys have to struggle harder to learn to be nurturing and loving adults because they were not given the chance to take care of a dolly. Society demands that boys be strong and fearless and girls be soft and nurturing. I see absolutely nothing wrong with letting the child determine which toys he/she wants to play with. This is my humble opinion.

I Agree with you Phyllis.. and I don't think I turned out so bad.. Mother taught me to sew and I did very well on my wife's wedding dress.. and no.. I don't consider myself to be fearless.. but humble.. and yes I still have my rabbit doll my other made for me in 1964

i think boys are not fond of dolls. Does dolls for boys and for girls have distinguish?

I think it's great for a boy to have a doll. I make rag dolls, including some boy dolls. Last month I sold one to a grandma from Great Britain who said they have a tradition in there family of giving rag dolls to boys on their first birthday, it was so fun to be a part of that. Boys have stuffed bears, why not a doll?

Phyllis, I have one doll in the house. It was my daughter's first doll when she was one. Her three year old son happened to find it recently. He treats it like a baby and started to include the doll in some activities like reading a book - the doll is company. One of his cousins is about a year old now so he is used to seeing a baby being fed, hugged and rocked.

As I continued reading I recalled my son and nephew along with my girls received Cabbage Patch dolls!

Yes, dolls are just little pretend people, what girl or boy doesn't like a little friend to share things with.

Why do you say "it is true that boys shouldn't play with dolls (In the classic doll form)"? I don't see any problem with boys playing with traditionally girl toys, nor do I see a problem with girls playing with traditionally boy toys.

I do like making such dolls and specially I am making from images as well which is a bobblehead doll.

Thank you Helen for a nice sharing. I do love making statues and dolls from images which are custom bobbleheads and also you can gift it to your loved on any special occasion.

Great article Helen, thank you. I agree with Angela though, boys shouldn't have too many or any dolls that are for girls from a certain age.

Boys generally lose interest in dolls but then turn their attention to action figures.

Angie, my nephew had tons of toy metal soldiers that he carefully painted in detail and set up in action scenes.