Craftsmen who make handmade dolls choose the name for their creations very carefully. For them, it is almost the same as giving a name to a child. It is not so responsible and difficult to come up with a name for a doll bought for a baby in a store, but there are rules here as well.
Often toy manufacturers give their dolls names or produce a series of dolls with one name. One of the most famous of these series is the famous Barbie. But each doll should have its own name, even if they look alike, like sisters.
Why is the doll named?
Some parents of very young girls think that the child does not need "extra information" and do not consider it necessary to name each toy. It is enough to call the doll "lala". It's easier for a child - they think.
Psychologists disagree with this opinion. A toy, especially one that depicts a person, is not an ordinary play object for a kid. Each of them has its own characteristics, one might say, individuality. From an early age, a child, calling his dolls by name, gets used to the fact that in addition to common nouns, there are also proper ones.
Moreover, experts advise giving names not only to dolls, but also to toys depicting animals.
What name should I give to the doll?
A preschooler of 5-6 years old will easily pick up a name on his own - his experience already allows this to be done. Read fairy tales, watched cartoons, names of others - there is plenty to choose from! Perhaps the baby will consult with his mother, but you should not insist on your opinion. The child already has a personal perception of each toy, and it can differ significantly from the parent.
It is also not necessary to tell the child the name of the toy specified by the manufacturer. Why limit the flight of a little man's fantasy? Coming up with a name for a doll is an interesting game, a creative process that does not tolerate rigid frames.
But younger children also play with dolls. Here parents should be actively involved in the search for a name, or even give it on their own. The name should be such that the child can easily pronounce it without distortion. So, a three-year-old baby is unlikely to be able to clearly pronounce "Masha" or "Ira", but "Tata" or "Anya" will easily pronounce.
Let the doll's name be familiar, but not the same as the name of the child himself. Preschoolers are egocentric, it will be unpleasant for them to “share” their name with a doll.
It is not scary if over time the child begins to call the doll differently.
In role-playing games, the doll can also be given a "role" and a new name corresponding to it.
With age, the nature of the game changes, the baby himself develops and his perception of the toy can also change.
