Empathy, tolerance and the ability to see the world from others’ perspectives are crucial skills — and they begin developing early in life. New research suggests that playing with dolls rather than tablets may be more effective at fostering these abilities.
Researchers from Cardiff University in the UK found that children ages 4-8 who played with dolls showed better improvement than those who played open-ended games on digital tablets in developing what is called “false-belief understanding.” The study was a randomized trial and was conducted over six weeks.
False-belief understanding is our ability to recognize that others can hold false beliefs or be mistaken about the world. Developing this cognitive skill helps us appreciate that others can have different beliefs and opinions — about politics, religion, among many things — and be able to tolerate and empathize with that.
Children who develop this cognitive ability can better navigate increasingly complex social situations and deal
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