“Everyone has the right to play what he wants,” says developmental psychologist Tatyana Bednik. “And learn to truly live.”
“Your 13-year-old daughter’s friends forgot about dolls, and she again asks for a new Barbie for her birthday? Worried about a girl’s protracted childhood, someone will say with irony: “Do you miss kindergarten?” The idea that only little ones play with dolls is actually a very superficial view of the process of growing up. Every person – big or small – has the right to play what they want.
And by and large, there is no clear line between toys “for children” and toys “for adults”, because in any game the main thing is the stories that are born in the course of action. And this is especially true for Barbie. Yes, you can play with her the way children play with dolls at the age of five or six – to nurse, educate. On the other hand, Barbies look like adult successful women, they are fashionably dressed and combed. Therefore, they often become girlfriends who want to imitate. Sometimes growing up girls play scenes of watched TV shows and invented love stories with the help of dolls. That is quite mature stories.
To understand why your daughter plays with dolls so enthusiastically, watch the plots of her games. Does she choose to be a mother? Most likely, for her, this is the only opportunity to feel like an adult. In this case, it makes sense for you to support her any desire for independence. Is a girl more comfortable with a silent Barbie than with peers? Teach her how to build and develop friendships. Indeed, at the age of 13, you can not only invent stories about adults, but also live them, be interested in fashion, music, boys … And parents should encourage such hobbies. Otherwise, the “games of adulthood” may drag on until adulthood.”