Having a dollhouse has been part of the prototypical young girl’s dream since the 1800s. Classic dollhouses built by hand still exist today, having weathered the long years in basements, attics and antique shops. Dollhouses have come a long way since those days, manufactured and branded for Barbies and other childrens’ dolls rather than built entirely by hand but that doesn’t diminish the importance of the dollhouse to the children of today. In fact it’s the current generation that needs things like dollhouses more than anything.

More and more the youth of today spends an increasingly frightening amount of time in front of a computer screen or staring at a cell phone. The times may have changed from how children used to communicate and play but children should still be encouraged to play with their own imagination and with others. Dollhouses can be a great way for young girls to broaden their imagination and discover parts of themselves by playing in a dynamic setting with their friends. By socializing with dolls, young girls can help themselves to develop their identity far more than they could by spending time on a computer or sending endless text messages to one another.

Having a dollhouse can help girls in another way. By having something special and unique to themselves, they learn the value of owning something special. Especially if their house has been passed down in the family. Having an heirloom to look after can give them something to look forward to when they have children of their own and have something to give to them that has belonged generations prior. Dollhouses aren’t just a nice looking antique to have in your home as a conversation piece, they are as important to our children now as they were to us and our parents before us as an invaluable toy to helps them grow.