Helping Children Grow Through Playing With Porcelain Dolls

By Patrick Cannon

Porcelain dolls are a great investment in a child’s imagination and future. Most children, however, will need to be taught the best way to enjoy this investment. A gradual introduction to the world of porcelain dolls from a young age will create love for this art form, the skills and knowledge required to fully enjoy the porcelain doll.

Begin the involvement of your children in your love of porcelain dolls as young as 2 years old, however, do not allow children under 7 to handle the dolls. Start by showing the youngest children the porcelain doll you are purchasing, and briefly explain why you chose that particular porcelain doll, what it represents to you.

As your child gets a few years older, show the young child the importance of cleanliness when handling the porcelain doll by always washing your hands and theirs before handling the porcelain doll for any reason. Another essential lesson for the very young child is the importance of gentleness when handling the porcelain doll. The very young child is unable to generate the level of gentleness required, but can learn the importance of this skill by watching you.

Begin with a less expensive, mass produced porcelain doll for the young child. This will create a life-long love of porcelain dolls, and a hobby for their future. Involving your child in the selection process will ensure the child enjoys the porcelain doll as much as you do. Choosing a porcelain doll that reflects the young child’s likes and interests will help to increase their bond to the doll.

After children are older, more able to be careful, and less likely to break the dolls, have them help you choose their first hand made porcelain doll. This choice is very important and should reflect the child’s interests and areas of curiosity. Take them to the store with you, or better yet, e-shop. Shopping online allows for more choices, and less chance of accidentally knocking over a display.

The choice of porcelain dolls should ultimately be theirs, but remember to place limitations on price, size, or other minor aspects. For example if the child is interested in Japan, consider purchasing a Japanese Porcelain Doll. Maybe your child has a favorite color, purple and is interested in their English ancestors. You could look for a Victorian era doll with a long flowing purple gown. Perhaps your young son wonders about male children of ancient Russia, consider his curiosity a starting off point in your search for a hand-crafted porcelain doll.

The natural curiosity children display also creates an opportunity to explain the traditional dress of the various cultures. As your child grows, so will their collection of porcelain dolls. The interests of children can change quickly and creates the opportunity for grandparents, aunts and uncles, or other relatives to contribute to the collection as gifts.
By the time the child is ready to move out and begin their lives as adults, they will have a great beginning to a wonderful life long hobby of collecting porcelain dolls.

Beginning while children are very young, and involving them in your passion of collecting porcelain dolls will create a hobby, and years of enjoyment in their futures. Allowing children to carefully choose their first porcelain doll will create a life-long bond with the art form of hand crafted porcelain dolls, and creates an activity you can enjoy together for many years.