Think dollhouses are just playing with dolls? Little did I know that playing with a dollhouse was actually building essential life skills, including the highly esteemed STEM skills!
Assembling (albeit poorly at first) my own dollhouse kit, ‘building’ some furniture, ‘laying’ shingles, laying my own carpet, flooring and wallpaper, to name a few things – was actually teaching me about architecture, math and design, fostered creativity, and helped build my confidence.
Since then I have moved on to activities bit more real-life scale – but the common thread is that I’m willing to try things I’ve never done before. From baking a souffle for the first time, re-wiring a light, mixing concrete, refinishing an antique desk or sewing a dress, it all started with trying to make my own things in miniature.
My dollhouse also seemed to live in an unusually high disaster zone: tornadoes, hurricanes and earthquakes often struck my poor long suffering dollhouse family, but they were a plucky bunch and enjoyed frequent remodeling updates!
A properly chosen dollhouse provides:
- An outlet for future engineers
- Opportunity to explore circuitry and construction
- Introduction to architecture and design
- Develop fine motor skills
- Expand social skills and emotional intelligence
- Encourages imaginative play
- All this learning and it’s still FUN!
Growing up there were so many building style toys for boys, but not so much for enticing girls to the world of STEM. Although, all kids love miniatures!
I loved my dollhouse. It was a Victorian, assemble yourself, wood dollhouse with window casings, stairs, and shingles. I spent hours making my own flooring, painting, wallpapering, assembling stairs and making my own furniture (lots of fails but it was fun), sewing curtains and making clay kitchen ware.
Skill Development Expanded
Spatial Awareness and Fine Motor Skills
How to Choose?
There are many dollhouses available, and much depends on your child’s age, interest and aptitude, as well as your budget and intent (temporary interest or long term goals)
We sorted through some easily obtainable options, from toddlers to older kids, for suggestions on how to choose, why certain features are beneficial, and what to look for when selecting a house for your,
See the article Dollhouses and Miniatures
The Big Sis