It's Important for Children to Play Issue 22 Home Page   Home Page

My Favorite Toy Was a Doll Emiko from Japan Photo: Sandy Peters One of my favorite toys was a doll called "Riba-chan-ningyo." She was very similar to a Barbie doll.   When I was a child, I was very introverted. Playing to me meant being at home with a few of my friends. My mother always told me to be gentle and quiet, and I followed her teaching obediently. I used to like to play with dolls. One of my favorite toys was a doll called "Riba-chan-ningyo." She was very similar to a Barbie doll. I had some doll houses, some extra clothes, and some of "her" friends. My collection of these dolls grew to be quite large. I loved them all; but when I was fourteen years old, I finally decided to give my collection to my little neighbor. It was very difficult to give them up. I was very sad at that time even though I had not played with them for a long time. I felt as if a part of me was lost forever. Nowadays I see this "Riba-chan" in stores, but her appearance is very different from the dolls I used to play with when I was a child. However, I am happy to see little girls still play with it. So many toys have changed or have disappeared completely. If I have a daughter in the future, I will give her a "Riba-chan" and play with it with her.  More on the importance of children playing: How Do—and Did—Children Play? | Traditional vs. High Tech Toys | I Was a So-Called Tomboy | Let's Play Outdoors! | The Toys I Played With Return to: It's Important for Children to Play | Issue 22 | Home Page TOPICS Online Magazine - ©1997-2007 - topics.mag@gmail.com - Sandy and Thomas Peters