My First Barbie is 13.5 inches tall, 2 inches taller than traditional Babs, with a larger waist that de-emphasizes the bust line (it remains in place, however), and flesh-tone modesty undergarments permanently attached. The animated special follows Barbie and her friends as they prepare for a surprise party. Storylines highlight preschool themes of friendship and family, with simplified plots, original music and life lessons. The four main dolls featured in the special are Barbie “Malibu” Roberts, Barbie “Brooklyn” Roberts, Teresa and Renee. The launch of My First Barbie was born from insights we gained from parents, as we are always talking to families about what they are looking for to best suit their needs. Through this research, we discovered a whitespace. Parents had a desire to introduce their preschool-aged children to Barbie but were planning to wait until they were older with more developed dexterity,” Tasja Kirkwood, vice president of global consumer insights at Mattel, said in a statement. “This insight led to the exploration of the first Barbie doll designed specifically for preschool-aged children, enabling Barbie to reach even more parents and children with the Barbie system of play.” Gone is the contentious hourglass figure for My First Barbie, which launched Thursday ahead of July’s live-action film about the icon starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. We talk to parents and kids almost 365 days a year,” she said. “We started hearing a theme around younger kids wanting to play with Barbie. Parents were concerned that their children at the preschool age didn’t have the fine motor skills to have a positive play experience with our traditional fashion doll.”

Andrea Werner, a pediatric occupational therapist in West Hartford, Connecticut, and mother of a preschooler and an infant, supports doll play as developmentally valuable. Joaniko Kohchi, director for Adelphi University’s Institute for Parenting, questioned Mattel’s motives. My First Barbie is 13.5 inches tall, 2 inches taller than traditional Babs, with a larger waist that de-emphasizes the bust line (it remains in place, however), and flesh-tone modesty undergarments permanently attached. Her fashion is more kid-like, with playful heart, star and flower designs on jammies and flouncy preschool-friendly dresses and swim gear. Her accessories are larger for littler hands, and her hair is extra long for easier brushing. A pink ruffle swimsuit is included, as well as large-scale accessories like a sunhat, tropical drink and pair of sandals.That’s why the brand’s newest doll, called My First Barbie, is made specifically for preschool-aged children ages 3 and up. The new line of dolls and accessories have the same look and feel of other Barbie dolls, but are updated with larger accessories, easy-to-dress Velcro fashions and a larger, softer doll body made for smaller hands. The dolls are available in four skin tones.

Parents also indicated that they are likely to choose a toy for their daughter based on a favorite character, and this ‘favorite’ status is often driven by content exposure. This finding led to the creation of My First Barbie YouTube content, the first Barbie animated special designed for preschoolers. Inviting younger kids to ‘meet’ Barbie and be introduced to her inspiring world.My First Barbie’s limbs are moveable, like some past versions of the doll, and her facial features remain recognizable. A huge milestone: Her fingers and thumbs are connected, eliminating a frequent complaint that Barbie’s hands get caught in her clothes when children try to put them on. There are plenty of dolls on the market,” she said. “Companies will always be trying to sell consumers the next best thing.” Closures on the clothing are simple, facilitating easy dress-up play for smaller hands -- which can also help build dexterity! In addition to its unique features, My First Barbie also has an affordable price point, making it a great option for parents who want to introduce their child to the wonderful world of Barbie without breaking the bank. This new doll is sure to bring joy and delight to any child’s playtime, while also providing a safe and educational experience. You will see the smile on your child’s face grow as they begin their journey into imaginative play! Welcome to the sweet world of My First Barbie, where friendships begin and imaginations soar! Preschoolers can learn, play and grow with My First Barbie dolls and sets.