“He’s Just Playing”—Why Doll Play Matters for Boys Too

In many early childhood settings, we celebrate children's creativity, imagination, and emotional expression—until gendered assumptions silently step in. A boy cradling a doll may still prompt side glances, teasing, or even misguided redirection. But it's time we call out this outdated thinking and reaffirm our professional responsibility: nurturing all children’s capacity for empathy, care, and meaningful connection.

Doll Play Is Developmentally Powerful—for Every Child

Research and practice both affirm that doll play:

Builds emotional literacy through pretend caregiving, dialogue, and comfort rituals
Supports empathy and social negotiation, especially in group settings
Invites role play that reflects diverse family structures and real-world identities
Lays groundwork for future nurturing roles—as brothers, fathers, educators, nurses, or allies

Yet boys are often nudged toward action play, construction, or “masculine” character toys, reinforcing narrow expectations that harm long-term development and well-being.

Busting Myths

Myth 1: “Doll play is just for girls”

Truth: Doll play supports every child’s emotional and social development. Through pretend caregiving, children build empathy, communication skills, and an understanding of relationships. Boys who play with dolls tend to be more emotionally attuned and caring in later life.

Myth 2: “Playing with dolls will confuse his gender”

Truth: Exploring roles and relationships through play does not influence a child’s gender identity. It simply provides a safe, creative outlet to experiment with emotions, stories, and care-based roles—something all children need.

Myth 3: “He should play with ‘boy toys’”

Truth: Children benefit from a full range of play experiences—from building blocks to baby bottles. Limiting play options based on gender reduces creativity and resilience. Diverse play leads to well-rounded development.

The Gendered Gaze: Unpacking Our Bias

Educators must reflect on questions like

Do we unconsciously steer boys away from dolls or kitchen play?
Are our dramatic play setups gender-neutral, inclusive, and culturally responsive?
Do our comments, facial expressions, or resource choices unintentionally reinforce stereotypes?

This isn’t about banning trucks—it’s about making space for tenderness, storytelling, and caregiving across all identities. Children are watching what we normalise.

From Intent to Action: Sector Strategies

Let’s champion inclusive play by:

Providing diverse dolls (skin tones, abilities, cultural dress, gender expressions)
Embedding relationship play prompts that centre caregiving, comfort, and family roles
Celebrating boys’ engagement through photos, storytelling, and child-led display walls
Offering parent info sheets that address gendered myths with research-backed reassurance
Training educators to recognize and challenge their own bias using micro-moment reflections

Children learn early who society values and how they’re expected to behave. Limiting boys’ ability to express care or vulnerability is a safeguarding concern—because emotional suppression, peer policing, and gendered shame have lifelong ripple effects.

As educators, we’re not just shaping play. We’re shaping futures.