Barbara Kenny was one of the first people to attend a Persona Doll workshop when the approach was launched in the UK back in 2000, and her practice using the dolls is still evolving. Now, all staff at her setting, the Alexandra Nursery School and Children's Centre in Bolton, are skilled in using them.
'When I first met Persona Doll founder Babette Brown, I was very inspired about the potential of the dolls,' says Ms Kenny.
The Persona Doll workshops involve small groups of participants choosing a doll and developing a persona for it. As this takes shape, the group begins to see how the dolls can support children's social awareness, understanding and empathy for others, and broaden their understanding about people and communities. The dolls also help children to express their own thoughts and solve problems the dolls may be facing.
'We had used puppets, but the dolls were different as they were not for the children to handle but took on their own identities as visitors to the nursery, to encourage the children to talk about themselves and each other,' says Ms Kenny. 'I also saw the potential for tackling issues of discrimination and promoting a sense of equality among children from a young age.'
Ms Kenny started by buying three dolls and took away a support training package and a DVD. 'Initially, we purchased a white blonde girl, an African boy and Pakistani girl. We've now added to this with a mixed-race doll, a Roma traveller and a plump doll. The training emphasises the importance of developing detailed personalities, background and culture for the dolls.
'We start by covering the dolls' families, clothes and different cultural events and celebrations. Most of the scenarios are positive ones. After the positive scenarios, we introduce the not so positive, where the doll will say he or she has a problem.
'The whole point is to share the fact that we are all different and equally valued. The dolls support children to understand this and share their emotions.'
