Finding Dolls Who Match Our Children...

If you have known me for any number of years, you know that finding dolls and toys that match my children has been a real passion of mine....and sadly this has not been an easy task! It is so important to me because children identify with their environment, and it is a fact that much of what they see is light skinned. Action figures are white, characters in books are white, greeting cards feature white children, television shows cast white people in the lead rolls. It is a small gesture for us as parents to be intentional about those things we choose to bring into our homes. I have told the story before of how years ago, right before Isaac was to join our family, I went to a popular toy store searching for a black baby doll. I chose the location of this store hoping I would have a variety of dolls to choose from. The entire staff at the store was African Amerian and yet the entire doll aisle was filled with white babies. I asked an employee, "where are the black dolls?" and she looked on each shelf thinking surely there would be one...to no avail. We both shook our heads at the perplexity of this and I left the store without my doll.

This took me to the internet where I came across a wonderful company called The Pattycake doll company. This website features categories of dolls based on ethnicity, special needs, and even dolls for boys! This doll is called Baby Bottoms and he is the one I purchased for Isaac way back when he was a toddler! And this little doll that is now for Jasmine, I purchased from The Pattycake Doll Co. years ago as well. (they no longer sell this exact one) It was made to be safe for infants.

So when it was time to buy Vivi some dolls, you know where I went!

Vivi has this caramel skinned beauty that she got for her first Christmas.And for her first birthday, this little soft bodied cutie who comes complete with a hospital bracelet!

Vivi also owns this set of wooden paper dolls and outfits, which we love!

I LOVE The Pattycake Doll Company and that is why I am SO thrilled to announce that in honor of Jasmine's birth, they are offering a DOLL BLOG GIVEAWAY to my readers!!!

www.PattycakeDoll.com has just been awarded two HowtoLearn.com top 101 sites awards, one as Top 101 Educational sites and another a month later as Top 101 Special needs sites. I also want to point out that this company's products can be purchased at www.SleepySoft.com (dolls), www.MyAdoptedChild.com (announcements and invitations), and www.Booksanddolls.com.

To be entered in the DOLL GIVEAWAY (giveaway doll to be chosen by the company), you must go to their site and check out the wonderful selection (over 175 dolls) that they offer! Then come back here and leave a comment with your honest feedback about the website and which doll(s) you would personally purchase for a child in your life. I will be using Random.org to generate a random drawing of commenters and announce the winner here on Friday! You do not have to have a blog account to enter and you do not need to leave your email address, but DO come back here to see if you won and contact me via laurieandvivi@yahoo.com within 48 hours or I will choose another winner.

Pattycake dolls are the perfect gift for your own child's birthday or adoption day. They also make a wonderful gift for a friend or family's child. And don't forget they also sell dolls for children with special needs, dolls for infants and toddlers, potty dolls, AND boy dolls! I think every single child should own a doll from the Pattycake doll company.

We will continue to be customers for years to come!