She may be all grown up, but Carol Smith still has a passion for dolls.
But not just any dolls. The ones she’s hooked on are called Persona Dolls, designed to look like girls and boys of different creeds and backgrounds, which are used by educators to help them tackle stereotypes and prejudices with their young learners.
Techniques such as storytelling are used to bring the dolls to life for children as young as 18 months.
‘The dolls visit [the class], usually at a group time, and the children quickly accept them as friends and share their joys and sympathise with them when they are sad,” says Smith.
Smith, coordinator of Cape Town-based Persona Doll Training, says the dolls are used to encourage empathy and acceptance towards diversity. The result is that learners can express difficult feelings and experiences in a safe environment.
‘The stories build upon each other and encourage children to ‘unlearn’ discriminatory attitudes, while empowering them to stand up for themselves and for others.”
Through the storytelling and discussion, young children are helped to understand the hurt that discriminatory behaviour causes. It also gives them the skills they need to cope with teasing, bullying and exclusion.
‘In the process they build on their understanding of fairness and unfairness, learn conflict management and problem-solving skills and are encouraged to feel proud of their families and cultural backgrounds without feeling superior or inferior to others,” says Smith.
But it’s not only little ones who benefit from working with Persona Dolls. Londy Nethonzhe, who recently attended a workshop, says it has changed her mindset. ‘From now on, I will know how to treat other people.”
She adds that she plans to organise workshops in her area and teach other people about the Persona Dolls.