Dolls bring personal touch to emotional education
Dolls are being introduced to Warwickshire nurseries and schools to help young children learn how to express themselves and understand each other’s feelings.
Research has shown that children as young as two begin to notice differences and start to discriminate against each other, but working with them in a positive way can help them learn to be more tolerant.
Persona dolls are now being used to help children aged up to six to learn about issues such as racism, prejudices, bullying, discrimination, stereotyping, fears, anxieties and misunderstandings.
Teachers and school governors will be finding out more about the dolls at a Learning Fair organised by Warwickshire County Council’s Education Development Service.
They are used to allow children to discuss a particular issue that might be affecting one of them. Instead of referring to the children directly, a group can talk to the doll.
Jill Alldritt, Education Manager at Stockingford Early Years Centre, which uses the dolls with three-year-olds, explained:
“We are trying to give the children the tools and vocabulary to express their feelings. By using the dolls in a group they can learn from each other how to deal with a situation.
“An example was when a child’s mother was in hospital. We got a group together and told them that the doll’s sister was ill. We then asked them how they thought the doll was feeling, and what could be done to make them and the doll’s sister feel happy. The children decided they wanted to send some notes to say get well soon so we made a special letterbox for this.
“Sometimes young children find it difficult to express themselves, so using the doll helps them to say they are feeling.”
Schools and nurseries have started to use the dolls, which come as boys and girls from a range of ethnic backgrounds. Teachers will be shown how to make the most of them and encouraged to take them on at the Learning Fair, which will showcase numerous other ideas that they can introduce to lessons. It is being held on 4 January at Manor Hall in Sandy Lane, Leamington.