Barbie’s New Friend.





Admittedly, I am a Barbie girl (with more than plastic in my little head – thank you kindly!). Still giving recognition to the fact that each child will play differently with whatever toy holds their attention, I love the notion of dolls for children which become their comfort toy, best buddy, little version of themselves, make-over BFF ect. As a Child Life Specialist, we use personalized hospital dolls (soft cloth dolls) for a variety of purposes – to establish a rapport with a child, to engage in a process-oriented activity (distraction, relaxation), to gain valuable assessment information, for dramatic play, and to teach or prepare a child for situations they will encounter. Beyond that, “baby dolls” encourage nurturing play and can inspire pretend play memories that children will cherish – as an adult, I know this to be true (kudos to Susie – my childhood doll). As children get older, dolls begin to symbolize an identity they want to aspire to or an identity that is like to their own. Children often look to identify with something or someone. This can become SO important for children facing illness who already away from normal routines of school and friendships, peer-group activities and who often spend periods of time alone in healthcare environments.

Up until recently, there has been very few and limited (hard to acquire) dolls that are “alternatively” designed to better reflect children with medical or special needs.

TA-DA! It’s here! Mattel, the maker of Barbie has now produced a bald fashion doll for children who have lost their hair because of illness or cancer.

Ella - The bald Barbie

Her name is Ella and she is Barbie’s new friend! Ella is bald (her hair is detachable – it’s a wig, and also interchangeable with other hair pieces). The doll comes with variety of frills such as hats, scarves and cute accessories like a handbag and a headband to allow children a traditional fashion play experience.

“These dolls will be distributed exclusively to children’s hospitals and other hospitals treating children with cancer throughout the U.S. and Canada, directly reaching girls who are most affected by hair loss."

         - Mattel Company spokesman, Alan Hilowitz.

Yes, Canada! Although I have no yet gotten a hold of one, it is so great to know they are out there and available to the right child.






Background HISTORY:

Beautiful and Bald Barbie Facebook Movement

For those unaware, the doll came about as a result of a Facebook movement “Beautiful and Bald Barbie – Let’s see if we can get it made” which begun nearly two years ago, with the goal of appealing to Mattel to produce a bald version of Barbie.
 
Despite the Facebook page generating an overwhelming amount of support and “likes,” it was not successful in convincing Mattel to mass produce and sell a bald version of Barbie. However, Ella will be distributed directly to children through their relationships with the Children’s Hospital Association, CureSearch and the National Alopecia Areata Foundation.

BRATZ Dolls

True Hope Moxie Girlz

While Mattel resisted the idea of a bald Barbie, it should be commendably noted that MGA Entertainment and producer of the controversial, Bratz Dolls, stepped up to the challenge and created the “True Hope” line of bald Bratz and Moxie Girlz dolls.

True Hope Childhood Cancer Awareness Poster

Even more, for every ”True Hope” doll sold, MGA is donating $1 to City of Hope, which is a leading research, treatment and education center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. How wonderful!


Regardless..….

These both these dolls are truly amazing. Not only will they serve as inspiration and fun to children facing health challenges, they will also serve to raise awareness for children with cancer, others who have lost their hair due to illness (i.e., alopecia and trichotillomania) and to anyone who sees them in a poster or on a toy shelf.


[?] How do you feel about Mattel’s decision to limit distribution and make "Ella" unavailable to the commercial market?

[?] The Bratz Dolls have long been considered “inappropriate,” for children by many. However, does the fact that MGA Entertainment were the first to acknowledge the need for alternative dolls and manufacture a bald doll, change your opinion about the Bratz and Moxie Dolls?


<3.

Thank you so much for reading!


Forever Dolled Up!

References:
*For additional information about Ella, please see CBC News @ Bald Barbie Doll

Image Source:
Ella in a box
Beautiful and Bald Barbie (page no longer available*)
True Hope Bratz Doll in a box
True Hope Bratz Poster

Child’s Play – It’s FUN-damental!

Child Life and those working with children in various other settings know that play is about more than just fun and games. Decades of research clearly demonstrate that play boots healthy development across a broad spectrum of critical areas: intellectual, social, emotional and physical.


“Play is a child’s work”
           - Jean Piaget (1896 – 1980)


Jean Piaget, founder of some of the most influential theories in cognitive development, was really the first of many who widened the perspective of professionals working with children to the power and importance of the play. Play is a natural and essential part of childhoods and is a child’s form of LEARNING. The benefits are so plentiful that “every day of childhood should be a day for play” as advocated by the Alliance for Childhood.

Indeed, Child Life Specialists function from the principle that every child, regardless of ability or circumstance needs child-directed play periods built into their day. Of course, the length and type of play will dependent on the child’s age as well as their physical and emotional state.

Child Life programs in hospitals have become the primary means of systematically providing developmental and therapeutic experiences for children through unique application of play as a:
          

a)      Healing modality (Play allows children to process an unfamiliar experiences their own pace. It allows children to gain control of their thoughts, feelings and actions and helps them achieve a sense of mastery) and….

b)       A teaching tool (i.e., Medical Play - which is a type of child-directed play used to help hospitalized children to learn about their condition, the treatment plan - test, procedures, surgeries; and rehearse ways to cope effectively).

Playrooms in healthcare environments serve some important functions. Most fundamentally, they provide children away from home and normal routines with a with a safe environment, free from medical procedures ect. to just be kids and engage in “normal” activities. Play is fun and familiar to all children and can encourage normal development in a new or stressful environment or during challenging circumstances.

There are many Types of Play that child life specialists can use to promote learning, development, coping and to just have plain old fun: 



Child Life: Types of Play


 

Become PRO-PLAY!

• Educate others about the FUNdamentals of play: Share research-based evidence about the importance and therpuetic value of imaginative, child-initiated, free play for children of all ages, abilities and environments.
• Advocate: Lobby for safe, well-maintained, developmentally-appropriate and stimulating play spaces in your community, hospital (waiting rooms, emergency departments), clinics, or in your respective education/treatment environment for children ect.
• Start an annual local “PLAY DAY” in your setting. For tips on how to accomplish this visit the International Play Association @ www.ipausa.org or www.ipacanada.org.

<3

Thanks for reading!


Team PRO-Play
J


References:
The Child Life Council @ www.clc.org
Alliance for Childhood @ http://www.allianceforchildhood.org
 
Image Source:
**Types of Play Graphic: Copyright © 2013 childsplayccls. (This is an original image, please clearly reference image to http://childsplayccls.blogspot.ca if you would like to use it.)