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health advisory Hospital Mental Health 2007-11-15 19:01:48

She often will yell at them ex: "Why are you not listening to me"

Answer:

Yes, it's perfectly normal. Children stop playing with dolls at varying ages; at eleven it's nothing to be concerned about.

You should understand that the behavior children carry out in play with their toys often reflects and imitates the experiences they have during their daily lives, especially ones they have which are particularly stressful, memorable, or important, as they learn to reproduce the relationships and behaviors they observe in others.

The child yelling at her doll may be an imitation of behavior she sees directed towards her by a parent.

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Yes it is okay to still play with dolls. It taps your creative

side and kids today need that outlet. Don't understand

the last part of your question though. Who is 'she' and

who is she yell at?

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It is fine for an eleven year old to play with dolls. In a couple of a years she will be a teenager and this habit should stop. I wouldn't be too worried about her talking to the dolls. If it is constant and it is bothering you, ask your daughter or whoever this child is, about what is going on and why she is talking to them. If it's just in a playful manner there should be nothing to worry about at all.

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My sister is like 13 and still does. Her room looks like barbie-land.

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I was eighteen when I stopped playing with dolls...of course I had a younger neice that owned them, and that was the only time I'd play.

I don't think there's an age when people have to stop to be healthy. I think it's the context that's important. Like: does she have a friends? Is she replacing friends with dolls? Is she playing it all day? Does she seem obsessed with it? There's nothing wrong with imagination and fantasies, at any age...but if imagination and fantasy is all she has...then there is definitely a problem and she needs some help.

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