What is the purpose of Persona Dolls in helping to tackle issues such as diversity, and how do practitioners use them in early years settings? Vicky Hutchin explains
A Persona Doll can help children as well as adults talk about sensitive issues
A Persona Doll can help children as well as adults talk about sensitive issues

Persona Dolls and their stories are a practical and enjoyable way to celebrate diversity, help children develop a positive attitude to difference and challenge stereotypes and prejudice.

The approach involves a special kind of storytelling, using a child-like doll for which a ‘persona’ (unique identity and family background) has been created by the practitioners who will be introducing the doll to the children and devising the stories. The doll is not a toy, and is only used for the storytelling sessions.

PERSONA DOLLS AND THE EYFS

The 2021 EYFS statutory framework begins with the statement that ‘every child deserves the best possible start in life and the support that enables them to fulfil their potential’. This is something we all agree with, but the world we live in does not offer every child the same opportunities to be all they can be – very far from it.

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