It's important to educate your little ones about race and ensure that they're inclusive of their peers and the world of people around them. Having meaningful discussions about multiculturalism is vital in early childhood development, and one way to reinforce the importance of inclusivity and representation is by diversifying your children's playroom. There are a ton of toys that promote multicultural education and represent a variety of cultures, abilities, and skin tones. We curated some of our favorite toys, dolls, games, puzzles, and activities ahead that are both inclusive and fun.
We all know how heartwarming it is to see yourself or your little one represented in media, whether it's in a Pixar movie or with a a Marvel superhero. Finding toys and activities that look like your little ones and their peers will make them feel like they belong while making sure you're raising a child who is antiracist and inclusive of those around them. We found a few dolls that celebrate Black hair specifically, so your little one can learn to style and appreciate their own hair. We even found interactive storybooks that reimagine classic Disney tales with a diverse twist. Shop these amazing toys, and make inclusivity the norm in your child's playroom.
— Additional reporting by Alessia Santoro
The Snuggle Stuffs Basket of Buddies Plush Diversity Dolls ($37) is a set of five plush toys perfect for little ones who love to cuddle with their dolls. Each one is dressed in colorful outfits and great for imaginative play. It comes with a soft-lined basket as well for easy storage. Plus, it's something that will make your child's peers feel welcome when they come over for a play date.
The Healthy Roots Doll — Zoe ($80) has washable and styleable hair that your kids can use real products on. They can practice styling coily and curly hair, experiment with new looks, and match with their new favorite doll. Zoe wants to teach everyone to love their curls.
The My Family Builders Diversity Building Blocks With Magnets ($55) come in a 32-piece play set that lets children explore a variety of family dynamics by constructing people who look like them or their community. It fosters inclusion and is a great gateway to talk to children about diversity, gender roles, acceptance, and empathy. The set has a variety of skin tones and facial features, including eight adult and eight kid heads, four big and four little bodies, and four big and four small legs.
Each Modern Fairytale Story Kit ($20) reimagines classic fairytales like "Snow White," "Little Red Riding Hood," "Pinocchio," and "Jack and the Bean Stock" into more inclusive stories. They feature characters of different backgrounds, ages, genders, and physical abilities. For example, Little Red Riding Hood runs an animal hospital, and Jack teams up with the giant to open a grocery store. Each book comes with an interactive play set as well to promote imaginative play.
If you're shopping for the little one who's a trendsetter, this The Fresh Dolls Mia Fashion Doll ($12) is something they'll adore. She has a fabulous dress with a voluminous afro, ready to take on the fashion world. The Fresh Dolls has plenty of multicultural dolls with unique facial features and varying hair textures and skin tones.
The Little Likes Kids Crossroads Kids' Jumbo Puzzle ($17) is a 72-piece jumbo puzzle best for ages 5 and up. It features girls and boys playing music together in a rock band, all in varying skin tones. It forms a stunning work of art that encourages forming friendships with everyone.
Teach children about science, technology, engineering, and math with the Brown Toy Box Amara Chemistry STEAM Kit ($30). This one teaches kids about chemistry and involves growing their own crystals. Amara, a two-sided figure cutout, will help your little ones learn a few of the elements of the periodic table as well.
You can also get the Brown Toy Box Dre Astronomy STEAM Kit ($30) for those interested in space and the stars.
The Positively Perfect Abrielle 18-Inch Fashion Doll ($25) has spiral curls; brown or tan skin; and a cute, casual outfit featuring pink shorts, a striped top, sparkly shoes, and a furry vest. Your little one can style her hair and even shampoo it, too. It's such a fun toy for those who love to give their dolls makeovers.
The HarperIman Imani Plush Linen Doll ($35) is something your little one will cherish and might even pass down to their own kids. It's a plush linen doll with a cute outfit and textured hair that will make your little one feel seen and represented. Imani is a creative with a passion for music and writing. You can shop more HarperIman dolls that have different backstories and skin tones as well.
The Fresh Dolls Career Collection Fashion Doll ($30) celebrates ambition and chasing the career you want. It's a three-doll collection celebrating women of color being career oriented. Mia is a world-class surgeon, Nevaeh is president of the United States, and Luna is a teacher.
The Ikuzi Dolls Mermaid Blue Tail Baby Doll ($15) is perfect for the little ones obsessed with mermaids. It's a plush toy that your child can cuddle and play with all day long. It'll be their new best friend, and it should hold them over until the live-action "The Little Mermaid" movie comes out.
Teach your little ones sign language using these interactive American Sign Language Blocks ($40). Each cube has easy-to-follow diagrams of the alphabetic hand signs, plus embossed letters that can be traced by their tiny fingers.
The MindWare Friends & Neighbors Matching Game ($22) is a creative game that encourages empathy, compassion, and cooperation. Best for kids ages 3 and up, the game involves matching a problem with a solution. Your little one has to pull out a token and identify if that token can help someone on the board.
The Once Upon a World Collection ($24) features "Snow White," "Cinderella," "Rapunzel," and "The Princess and the Pea" reimagined with characters from different parts of the world. Snow White is Japanese, Cinderella is Mexican, Rapunzel is Indian, and the princess in "The Princess and the Pea" is Russian.
Get your little one accustomed to foods from around the world and make them open to trying new dishes. The Melissa & Doug Sushi Slicing Wooden Play Food Set ($15, originally $25) is a fun way to do that, as it's a cute wooden set that lets your children put together and play with sushi. It has sliceable sushi rolls, shrimp, tuna, egg, roe toppings, rice, a dipping bowl, a wooden knife, and more.
Teach your children about vitiligo with the Barbie Fashionistas Doll #135 With Vitiligo ($24). This doll has a more petite body than the original and a stylish striped dress with white sneakers and a fanny pack. She's casual and cool with styled curls.
If you're on the hunt for the Barbie wheelchair dolls, you can get the Barbie Fashionistas Doll #166 ($20) and Barbie Fashionistas Doll #165 ($20). Each one comes with a wheelchair with functional rolling wheels, a working brake, and a ramp that is compatible with the Barbie Dreamhouse. It has moveable joints as well, so your little one can fully interact with it.