For many kids, dolls aren’t just toys — they’re tools for telling stories, exploring the world, and making sense of growing up.A doll can invite a kid to celebrate their own identity and explore those of others. And experts have zeroed in on another developmental benefit of dolls: their ability to teach kids empathy.We interviewed teachers, therapists, and psychologists, and we invited some 50 children to play with dozens of dolls. Here are 11 we recommend, for babies through preteens.