Comments on: Are Doll Houses Okay for Boys?

By: Living

Living — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 01:16:26 +0000

I don’t have children. My brother didn’t play with my dollhouse when he was little (he wasn’t interested). But you can bet that when I do have children I’ll be giving any boys a dollhouse as well. Dolls aren’t just for girls- they represent humans. The rest is up to the child. And what’s wrong with playing dad with a baby doll?
Dollhouses are similar in that really, it’s up to the child how they play with it. Real dads/men live in houses, and do things in houses- so why can’t boys make the dollhouse figures do those things too? Makes no sense to me.

If you check out my website you’ll see just how gender neutral many adult dollhouses can be- they’re just portraying history. That’s not girly. And you can make them even more masculine if you want.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 01:58:10 +0000

My son (7)has been asking for a doll house. We call them little houses, though. I will probably get him one for Christmas and we can all build it together. I think it is completely okay for boys to have dollhouses and baby dolls. Here is one I like. It is affordable and made in the USA and comes unpainted.
http://www.craftsetc.com/store/item.aspx?dep=50&cat=14&subcat=20&IsOnSale=0&IsFeatured=0&IsNew=0&ItemId=47401

By: Bee

Bee — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 22:01:57 +0000

I survived on action figures as a kid; but I had to buy my boys their own dolls.

You see I grew up to be a childminder (that's a Brit daycare provider). To role-play and copy their daddy, they had to have a baby doll to cuddle, feed, cart around in a sling... and the dog was starting to protest.

By: Alisha

Alisha — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 21:06:47 +0000

I just love this site, and this article is really representative of why. My husband and I are expecting our first (a boy) in February, and I am really hating all the boy clothes out there. Everything has trucks or puppies! Well, we have cats, dammit, and I want cat clothes for my son. Doesn't look like it's happening. I like the idea of gender neutral toys or even a dollhouse... makes me wonder if I shouldn't have this discussion with my husband this evening.

Thanks, as always, for writing such great pieces.

By: Julie C

Julie C — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 19:29:10 +0000

How about this this cute jungle tree house by Hearthsong? That oughta be manly enough for Daddy... http://tinyurl.com/2cqcba

By: Erin

Erin — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 03:47:12 +0000

My 1 1/2 year old loves playing with dolls and even sleeps with his own special ragdoll. I would have no problem buying him a dollhouse if he wanted one, however, I do believe that boys and girls and different and tend to gravitate toward different toys. You can’t force a boy to want a dollhouse, but, I’m all for it if he wants one.

By: Noisette's Maman

Noisette's Maman — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 17:40:42 +0000

My girl and my boy like playing with their Melissa and Doug Fold and Go Dollhouse... gender neutral colors and it's less than $50.

http://www.gummylump.com/front/f_product.php?id=202

By: adrienne

adrienne — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 16:00:43 +0000

So, this morning we met my dad for breakfast. I mentioned the fact that I'm trying to decide which doll to buy my 2 year old son- a waterproof Tidoo or a anatomically correct (which might be good during potty training) doll.

My dad said, "You're not getting him a doll, it's an action figure!" I almost fell of my chair laughing.

So a baby action figure it is.

By: jm

jm — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 00:53:30 +0000

Buy the doll house. The kid will decide for himself how he will play with it. When I was a kid all I wanted was the Star Wars Death Star play set ( which now that I think about it was really a kind of doll house ) I never got one so I substituted other toy buildings to be my Death Star. If I would have had a doll house like the one in the picture it would have become my Death Star.

By: Chelsea

Chelsea — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 21:51:26 +0000

Does anyone remember this song from their youth?

Williams Doll from the Free to be You and Me Soundtrack.

When my friend William was five years old
He wanted a doll, to hug and hold
"A doll," said William, "is what I need
To wash and clean, and dress and feed

"A Doll to give a bottle to
And put to bed when day is through
And any time my doll gets ill
I'll take good care of it," said my friend Bill

A doll, a doll, William wants a doll
Don't be a sissy said his best friend Ed
Why should a boy want to play with a doll
Dolls are for girls said his cousin Fred
Don't be a jerk, said his older brother
"I know what to do," said his father to his mother

So his father bought him a basketball
A badminton set, and that's not all
A bag of marbles, a baseball glove
And all the things a boy would love

And Bill was good at every game
Enjoyed them all, but all the same
When Billy's father praised his skill
"Can I please have a doll now," said my friend Bill

A doll, a doll, William wants a doll
A doll, a doll, William wants a doll

Then William's grandma arrived one day
And wanted to know what he liked to play
And Bill said, "Baseball's my favorite game
I like to play, but all the same

"I'd give my bat and ball and glove
To have a doll that I could love"
"How very wise," his grandma said
Said Bill, "but everyone says this instead"

A doll, a doll, William wants a doll
A doll, a doll, William wants a doll

So William's grandma, as I've been told
Bought William a doll, to hug and hold
And William's father began to frown
But grandma smiled, and calmed him down

Explaining, William wants a doll
So when he has a baby someday
He'll know how to dress it, put diapers on double
And gently caress it to bring up a bubble
And care for his baby as every good father
Should learn to do

William has a doll, William has a doll
'Cause someday he is gonna be a father, too

---------------------------------
My son's favourite toy is a dollhouse, it's a great toy for play and imagination!