Baby dolls
These are often the most attractive kind of dolls to children, who may be learning to live with younger siblings or simply have a curiosity about people who are even smaller than themselves.
Hope's New Born Baby comes as a white or black boy or girl. The dolls are made from jointed vinyl and are anatomically correct. Each doll measures 40cm in height and is priced 10.95, or you can purchase a set of four for Pounds 37.80.
Telephone 08451 202055
www.hope-education.co.uk
Black Dolls Direct specialises in baby dolls and sells two ranges. Preemie New Born dolls have 'soft touch' vinyl skin, wrinkled hands and feet and are fully jointed and washable. The dolls measure 43cm in length and weigh 842g and they come with a nappy and hospital name tag, priced 16.
The Original Newborn has a vinyl, jointed body and is washable. This doll also has realistically wrinkled hands and feet in characteristic reflex positions and comes with a nappy and hospital name tag. Priced 25.
All the dolls are designed with the childcare sector in mind and as a teaching aid: they are anatomically and ethnically correct and are available as boy or girl, oriental, mixed race and black.
Telephone 07956 132059
www.blackdollsdirect.co.uk
The Little Mommy range from Fisher Price includes a bath time doll, twins and this baby doll, pictured left. The doll comes wearing an all-in-one outfit with hat, plus a baby bottle, keys teething ring and a baby jigsaw.
It is washable and measures 14in in height, priced 12.99.
Telephone 01628 500 303
www.fisher-price.com/uk
Baby Annabell III featured in the top ten best-selling toys list of Mail Order Express and is a perennial favourite. This Zapf Creation doll is suitable for three-year-olds upwards and comes with many integral features, including babbling, gurgling and giggling. This doll also makes sucking sounds with realistic mouth movements; burps when her stomach is rubbed; yawns, closes her eyes, snores' cries 'real tears' - so plenty of room for role play there. The doll measures 46cm in length and comes with a baby outfit, soother and accessories and requires four AA batteries. Priced around 35.
Telephone 0845 838 1479
www.mailorderexpress.com
Soft-bodied dolls In addition to providing anatomically correct and realistic role play dolls, you should also make some soft-bodied dolls available, as these often appeal to children who seek to use dolls as comforters.
Nell is a soft and floppy hand-made doll from Sri Lanka. She can be dressed and undressed and comes with a pink dress and hair bow. The doll measures 35cm in length and is designed to fit into a wooden, handcrafted pram (45). Nell is machine washable on a gentle setting and is priced 12.99 from Smile Child.
Telephone 0800 1956982
www.smilechild.co.uk
Happy Boys and Happy Girls from Eduzone are so named because they are meant to be carried around and cuddled. The boys are called Aaron, Charlie, Nathan, Danny, Max and Jordan and the girls are named Bethany, Hannah, Alisha, Sunita, Sophie and Jade. All the dolls have smiling expressions and represent different ethnic backgrounds. The dolls are part of a Fair Trade initiative and come from Sri Lanka. They are made from handloom cotton, which means their clothes may vary from doll to doll but they can be removed for hand washing. Happy boys and girls measure 14in in height, priced 9 each.
Telephone 08456 445 556
www.eduzone.co.uk
The World Children range from Galt includes boy and girl dolls that are Inuit, Oriental, European, African and Indian. Each doll has a soft body and flexible vinyl limbs and head, and comes dressed in a typical style of costume to represent their own society. The dolls can be dressed and undressed and measure 40cm in height. Priced 18.95 each or 32.90 for a pair.
Telephone 08451 203005
www.galt-educational.co.uk
Rag dolls
This is one of the oldest types of doll available and is the antithesis to the all-singing, all-dancing variety, but just as valuable as a resource because it is so versatile. There is an example of a rag doll in the British Museum, which dates back to 300BC, and, as they are virtually unbreakable and inexpensive to buy, it's a good idea to make room for some in your setting.
Baby Stella is the 21st-century equivalent to a traditional rag doll.
Stella comes as a black or white baby and is made from polyester fibre that can be surface washed with cool water. The doll comes dressed in an up-to-date outfit and has a soother that attaches magnetically to her mouth. A party outfit, feeding set, changing bag set and bassinet are also available and all made from the same soft fabric. Stella is 38cm tall and is suitable for 18-month-olds upwards. Priced 19.99 from Manhattan Toys.
Telephone 020 8944 3160
www.manhattantoy.com
Another take on the rag doll is this Dressing Up doll, shown below. The dolls come as a boy or girl, dressed in dungarees, coat and boots that can be zipped, buttoned, buckled and fastened with the poppers and fastenings on the clothes. The doll is 55cm in height and is priced 36.25 from Asco.
Telephone 0113 270 7070
www.ascoeducational.co.uk
Urchin's knitted doll (right) has the body and limbs of a rag doll, with the head of a lion, bug or cat. These dolls are made from soft cotton by a Fairtrade co-operative in Peru and can be surface cleaned with a damp sponge. The dolls measure 30cm in height and are priced 23.95 each.
Rag doll kits are also available from Urchin, priced 18.95.
Telephone 0870 112 6006
www.urchin.co.uk
Eduzone has a collection of multi-cultural rag dolls (below right) in its range. These dolls are available as Asian, black and white boys and girls and come with brightly-coloured, detachable clothing. The dolls measure 36cm in height and can be surface washed, priced 12.95 each.
Contacts as before
SUPERSIZE ME
Extra large dolls are a useful prop in class and can be used as part of a reward system whereby the child gets to look after the doll, and also as a teaching aid at story time. The Seraphina doll would complement the telling of fairy tales particularly well or make the ideal silent party guest.
Seraphina comes dressed in an ornate pink party gown with rosette trim, pink shoes and a tiara. The doll measures 101.5cm in height, is made from polyfibre and can be surface washed. Suitable for three-year-olds upwards.
Priced 41.25 from Manhattan Toys. Contacts as above
