Can a Dollhouse Really Keep Children Away from Screens?

Well, you tell me. We're not so sure :)

And to be honest, we're not sure that's even the right question.

Because if you think about it, we all have different things we enjoy doing. We read, we watch something, we go for a walk, we call a friend. Sometimes we just want to sit and do absolutely nothing.

Why would it be any different for children?

Screens are part of their everyday lives now. And from the feedback we receive from families, and what we've observed ourselves, we've started to notice something.

Children don't necessarily need another reason to stay away from a screen.

Sometimes, they just need a little place of their own to come back to.

A Little Place to Try Life Out

We've always thought there was something fascinating about the way children play with dollhouses.

Because they're not just moving little furniture around.

They're trying things out.

Things they've seen. Things they've heard. Things that happened at school that day. And sometimes, things that haven't happened yet.

Almost like a little rehearsal for whatever comes next.

They choose a character from the families. It doesn't really matter which one.

Because that little bear or rabbit is no longer just a bear or a rabbit.

It's whoever they want it to be.

Sometimes it's them.

Sometimes it's the person they wish they could be.

And sometimes it's someone they have a few things they'd really like to say to.

The lovely thing is, nobody tells them what to say.

They decide.

And Then There's Emma.

You know Emma?

Of course you don't.

But your child probably has an Emma.

The girl from school who said something funny yesterday. Or the one who didn't want to sit next to them at lunch. Or perhaps their new best friend.

Well, today Emma is coming over.

Not the real Emma, of course.

Emma is now one of the little rabbits living in the dollhouse.

And apparently, it's her birthday.

There's a party to organise. Everyone needs a seat. Someone has to make the cake. And Emma absolutely must have the biggest bedroom because, well, it's her birthday.

Five minutes later, there's an argument.

Then everyone is friends again.

And by the time dinner is ready, Emma has moved house twice.

We love imagining these little moments.

Because what looks like a child playing with a dollhouse might actually be their way of making sense of something that happened that day.

Or simply inventing something wonderfully silly.

Both are perfectly good reasons to play.

And Yes, Sometimes They Go Back to the Screen.

Of course they do.

They get bored of the birthday party.

Emma can wait.

There's something they want to watch.

And that's fine.

We never imagined a dollhouse would be something a child plays with every minute of every day.

But here's the part we find interesting.

Sometimes they get bored of the screen, too.

And suddenly, they remember something.

Emma never got her birthday present.

Or the father has things to say.

Or they had an idea for a new room.

And just as you're getting ready to turn off the lights, you hear:

"Can I play with my dollhouse for just five minutes before bed?"

Of course, we all know what five minutes means to a child. :)

Maybe It Was Never About Replacing the Screen.

Perhaps it's simply about having somewhere else to go.

A place that doesn't tell them what happens next.

A place where they can decide who they want to be, what they want to say, and how the story ends.

Some days they'll spend an entire afternoon there.

Other days, five minutes will be enough.

And sometimes the dollhouse will sit quietly in the corner while they do something completely different.

That's all right, too.

Because we don't think childhood needs to be one thing or another.

And we certainly don't think a dollhouse needs to compete with a screen.

We just like knowing that whenever a child has an idea, a story to tell, or something they want to try out, there's a little place waiting for them.

And if they happen to remember it five minutes before bedtime?

Well, we hope Emma has a lovely birthday.

Oh, and one little thing before you go.

The photographs in this article are actually stills from a real video :)

We'd love for you to watch the little moments come to life, too.

Watch the video on Instagram