Stuffed Animal Safety and Information

Dolls and Stuffed Animals Age Determination Guidelines for 2-year olds, Part 7

September 20, 2008 on 7:34 am | In

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The following is an excerpt from the CPSC document referenced in Part 1.  This excerpt discusses recommended dolls and stuffed animals for children 2 years old.
 2 Years
 

Although they still imitate a great deal, children in this age group increasingly recognize the symbolic connections between toys and the real world, and start to pretend more often than younger children. This pretend play also occurs in more complex ways. These children have a low to moderate degree of fine-motor dexterity and control, and can handle slightly larger (12 to 18 inches) and heavier (8 to 16 ounces) dolls and stuffed toys. Soft, rounded, pliable, and cuddly dolls and stuffed toys are most attractive. Pale or pastel colors also begin to attract this age group. These toys may have a small number (about two to four) of familiar accessories such as a bottle, blanket, or bone. Appropriate dolls and stuffed toys are easily carried, non-threatening, and familiar looking with a friendly appearance. Characteristics such as these are important for these children to initiate pretend episodes and to practice being friends or caring partners. As these children approach 3 years of age, dolls become more appealing when they have a low to moderate level of realistic details in their facial features, hair, clothing, and accessories. This is especially true for baby dolls. Children of this age also begin to appreciate eyes that move, like baby dolls that sleep and awake. Dolls and stuffed toys that are stiffly posed or elaborately detailed (for example, those with fine lace or intricate patterns on clothing, or those with facial wrinkles) are not as appealing.
 

Two-year-olds are attracted to dolls and stuffed toys that have a low to moderate level of cause and effect, such as toys that produce sounds, lights, or other actions when pushed, or ones that permit simple manipulations of the heads or extremities. These children will squeeze dolls and stuffed toys in various places to see if they can cause some kind of effect. Single, predictable interactions with talking dolls and stuffed toys begin to foster a sense of control and mastery, especially if they are associated with familiar characters the child recognizes from various media, books, or family and everyday contexts. Interactive or talking toys that require sequential actions to use them are less appealing. Familiarity and captivating cause-and-effect features can help to balance out less cuddly forms, dull colors, and other less desirable features.
 

Because they desire independent functioning, children of this age enjoy dolls and stuffed toys that are easy to take care of and dress, so those with simple hats or with vests that have large arm holes would be appropriate. These children also enjoy toys with usable pockets or ones with easy-to-use pull strings and push buttons that initiate various actions. Two-year-olds can remove clothing, but may have difficulty redressing if clothing uses buttons or snaps. Fasteners that are more easily usable by these children include large buttons, hooks, and hook-and-loop or touch fasteners. They like simple dress-me dolls and will pretend to bathe dolls, especially ones that are washable and submersible. Miniature dolls, life-sized dolls, and accessories (for example, baby dolls with grooming supplies) also appeal to this age group, as do wooden or plastic peg dolls. These children will pull on the limbs, head, and fur of the toy, and may brush a doll’s hair. Doll hair and stuffed animal fur are less likely to be pulled out by the brushing or pulling actions of these children if they are firmly rooted and tangle free.
 

Medium-sized stuffed toys (12 to 16 inches in length), like teddy bears and other animals, are more appealing when in tandem, like a mother and baby combination, as this offers the child greater pretend possibilities. They also enjoy larger or life-sized stuffed toys that they can drag around, climb on, and cuddle. They become more aware of dolls and stuffed toys that are licensed, and this begins to influence their preferences and ultimate enjoyment of these toys.
 

Next time we will see what stuffed animals and dolls that CPSC suggests for a 3 year old.