Do I need to get him a dolly...

[dingdongmer]

....to teach empathy kindness etc. I've heard it's good to do but I'm not keen.

Did anyone here do it? He's almost 2

My ds had a doll because he wanted one. It was a boy one and had a little blue buggy too. Does he want a doll? And why would you not be keen?

I don't think he wants a doll no it's just it was suggested to me

Why do you say you're not keen though?

I'm just not keen, I don't need to explain myself

The question was have other people bought their sons dollies for empathy and I've seen your reply, anyone else?

Do you think he'll turn gay or something?

I bought my son a doll and a buggy - partly to protect my daughter as he wanted to push her buggy, but fast. I didn't mind if a doll crashed into walls etc.
I'm not sure it taught him empathy - although he is pretty empathetic.

Empathy is best taught by consistently modelling it to a child through your own behaviour and can include saying ow when you hurt yourself walking into something so he begins to understand cause and effect with pain.

I'm sure you must have other toys you can role play empathy with if you're not keen on dolls. Dolls are good for teaching how to care for a baby/child and everyone needs these skills whether they are a boy or girl.

True empathy is something that takes years to develop fully though and is not something that is something that toddlers can do. He's at the understanding cause and effect stage of development.

No I'm not worried he will turn out gay as I myself am bisexual!!!!!

My friend did say to me she thinks he's a bit young yet to understand empathy

Why won't you explain why you're not keen?

It could be anything

1. allergy to soft toys
2. finding toy babies creepy
3. lack of space
4. hassle of remembering to take dolly around and even bigger hassle if he loses it
5. lack of money
6. Xmas has just gone so you don't want to have to buy another toy

Etc

I think you need to give more details about what you mean by empathy.

2yo sees mum bang head and say ouch - I'd expect toddler to know that mum is hurt as he will have experience of hurting himself. Are you looking for him to act on this say give you a hug?

I don't think a doll is the only way to teach empathy.

Having said that, they are brilliantly versatile toys which can be used in all sorts of different play, from nurturing play to role play and even action play.

It should also perhaps be mentioned that societal reluctance to give boys nurturing toys is quite a modern one: my husband had dolls, photographs of Victorian and Edwardian children show dolls and teddies, as do older paintings. I'm in my late 50s and can't help noticing how much more rigid the boy/girl thing has become- at the very same time when grown men are expected to be more clued-up about traditionally feminine work.