These paper doll printables are free and lovely! Print one set of print multiple copies to color, or paint, and bring to life. Add some heavier card stock if you want the doll to stand up. Have you ever played with paper dolls? Maybe your mom or grandma did? They used to be much more popular.
We love the many possibilities! Whether you’re going to make the dolls have outfits that are Matchy Matchy or whether you mix it up, there are so many different looks you can create.
I love trying on different clothes in real life and putting on fashion shows in our living room. Hats, purses, necklaces — you name it, I love it! I was very excited by the idea of a paper doll I could dress up however I wanted; and as many times as I wanted.
Benefits of Playing with Paper Dolls
There are many benefits to children who play with paper dolls, like:
Creative Development: Playing with paper doll printables allows children to tap into their imagination. They come up with storylines, they role play, they pretend something is happening – and then they blur the line between imaginative play and real-life problem solving. “Ooh, this doll is a sailor,” one child might say. “We don’t have a boat,” the other might respond. Then after some chatter, a paper napkin may become a vessel. When children explore their imagination, they are learning an important skill for life.
Social Development: Sometimes art imitates life, and when this happens to children through play it is invaluable. When children play with paper dolls, they can create scenarios that mirror an event or situation in their life. They can do this, without even referencing that this is their life. And frankly, many times, kids do this without even thinking about it, they’re just playing, which is golden. As such, paper dolls can provide a free and child-appropriate way for a child to work through different paths and outcomes out loud, free from pressure to pursue a specific one.
Language Development: When children play with paper dolls, they narrate situations out loud and use different words. They also hear different words. Listen carefully (aka eavesdrop!) the next time your child is playing with paper dolls and you might even hear yourself reflected in their words! It’s normal, and beneficial, for children to test out different words or practice expressions they hear other say, to see what it feels like/sounds like to use them themselves.
Fine Motor Skill Development: Those little tabs on paper dolls that kids need to fold over, help to work and improve upon fine motor skills. In addition to folding paper tabs, changing the doll’s clothes requires concentration and the coordination of small muscles with their eyes, hands, and fingers. Manual dexterity can be related to the nervous system, which means they help in growing intelligence. (PS – Check out this tin foil flower craft that helps boost fine motor skill development)!
Ready to scroll down and print your free paper doll printables?
