What do you think of this 'Down's Syndrome doll'?

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

I agree with the good concept, horrible execution.

However, like a pp said, maybe they had a child that DID do the tongue thing. You're never going to sum up an entire 'group' with one doll..EVER!! If they had made her smiling, maybe a mom would be offended that the tongue was left out.

My SIL has downs and occasionally does the tongue. It's her. It's what she does.

They tried with the doll *shrug*

HOWEVER, the OUTFIT. COMEON.

Would they have put that on a doll that didn't have down syndrome?

 

[Todd&Copper]

. . . .

HOWEVER, the OUTFIT. COMEON.

Would they have put that on a doll that didn't have down syndrome?

I believe they would have. There are dozens of what I consider to be ugly and poorly attired baby dolls. Check out the no-name brand ones at K-B, Toys R Us or Wal-Mart. Some are downright scary!

 

[Scurvy]

I'm another vote in the "Great concept, bad execution" camp. The outfit and hair are just awful, and I think the tongue is a little much.

 

[goofy!]

Most children with Down syndrome are reminded (over and over again ) from a VERY early age "tongue in". By the time they reach pre-school age, the tongue isn't an issue.

I often feel sorry for older adults with Down syndrome They never had the opportunities that children do today. They were never taught to their full ability. Nowadays, a child with DS has ENDLESS opportunities

Forgive my motherly brag, but my daughter has a great job in a physician's office, she trains therapy dogs through the Delta society, she travels with her national championship cheer team (link to Brian William's NBC story of the team in my siggie), and she just won a major scholarship from one of our Denver Bronco's Foundations for her athletics, academics & volunteer work.

A good friend is away at college pursuing her dreams. The things our kids have achieved I would have never dreamed possible when she was born 20 years ago. She really is a young woman that just happens to have a third 21st chromosome.

Why would somebody want to accentuate everything that is a negative stereotype about people who just happen to have Down syndrome in a doll rather than making it cute and relatively "normal?"

The babydoll pictured before has the Down's characteristics but is incredibly cuddly. The toddler Downi dolls have a very slight tongue protrusion and the almond eyes, but again, they look like they fit in with the rest of society.

The OP's doll is just weird and perpetuates a very negative stereotype rather than portraying a kid with downs as a kid first.

 

[HannahBanana]

i think that is pretty horrible :[

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

Awful.
That has got to be one of the ugliest dolls I've ever seen and it's NOT because it's a Down Syndrome child.

It's the tongue and the outfit and the hair. I mean, one or the other or even two of them combined would've been bad. But all three together make me just go

 

[Ember]

Okay, I can understand why some people don't like the doll. I get that it reflects stereotypes, it's badly dressed, and it has stupid hair.

That said, I think it's a great step in the right direction. If I ran a preschool or had a kindergarten class I would look for a doll like this. (Perhaps not this particular doll, but the same general idea.) Why? Because it's a great way of introducing diversity to children. It can spark conversations like, "why does this doll look like this?" What a great teaching moment! When differences move from unknown to familiar they are met with far less fear and far greater understanding.

Personally, I don't see anything wrong with stereotypes as long as you recognize them for what they are. East Indian people don't always wear saris yet in children's books they are often portrayed as wearing them. It highlights a part of their culture. Similarly, not all African Americans have large lips and wide noses, but again many images portray them as such. I don't believe the intent is negative in either case.

I would be willing to bet the creators of that doll intended it to be a positive thing.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

I believe they would have. There are dozens of what I consider to be ugly and poorly attired baby dolls. Check out the no-name brand ones at K-B, Toys R Us or Wal-Mart. Some are downright scary!

EH, You're right. I just remembered a recent trip to Target. *shudder*

The BIIIIIIB THE BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIB

Why the bib? On any doll?

 

[Tiggernut_jadie]

I'm a specialist nurse for people with learning disabilites here in the UK and can say without doubt that that is the most hideous and offensive thing I've seen in a long long time! Years ago, when people with a learning disability were institutionalised here in the UK they were often put in all in one suits to stop them removing their clothes. They also had notoriously BAD hair cuts....known colloquelly as 'Down's bob' - I'm very surprised this doll hasn't got the same! And as for the tongue......words fail me!

I'm in the good concept, BAAAAD execution camp!

 

[Ember]

I have a question, and please don't hang me for my ignorance, I ask because I truly want to know. Why is the doll having it's tongue out offensive? My best friends brother has Down's and he often has his tongue out. I've also worked with students who do the same, though certainly not all by any means. There are baby dolls that have smiles, others that have their faces crinkled in crying, and others with vapid expressions. If this was a range of dolls with different expressions, would this particular expression still be offensive? Also, one post mentioned children are trained to "tongue in", that would seems to imply that a baby would be more likely to have it's tongue out rather than a child, which would make it even more natural...

Again, I emphasize that I admit to ignorance and would like to change that, I'm not meaning to be insulting or offensive myself in anyway.

 

[Stitchfans]

I agree with a couple of the previous posters: great idea, poor execution. The one KyraS posted is wonderful.

I agree with this also.

 

[hentob]

Forgive my motherly brag......

Brag on, Sweetie! Brag on!!!

 

[handicap18]

As the mother of a 15yr old daughter with Down Syndrome....

I don't like it!

It's been a long time since people with DS have wandered around with their tongues hanging out. My daughter does not stick her tongue out at all, and neither do her friends with DS. In fact, my DH sticks his tongue out when concentrating - he probably sticks his tongue out more than Rachael does

I LOVE that second doll - very cute and much more realistic.

Most children with Down syndrome are reminded (over and over again ) from a VERY early age "tongue in". By the time they reach pre-school age, the tongue isn't an issue.

I often feel sorry for older adults with Down syndrome They never had the opportunities that children do today. They were never taught to their full ability. Nowadays, a child with DS has ENDLESS opportunities

I have a question, and please don't hang me for my ignorance, I ask because I truly want to know. Why is the doll having it's tongue out offensive? My best friends brother has Down's and he often has his tongue out. I've also worked with students who do the same, though certainly not all by any means. There are baby dolls that have smiles, others that have their faces crinkled in crying, and others with vapid expressions. If this was a range of dolls with different expressions, would this particular expression still be offensive? Also, one post mentioned children are trained to "tongue in", that would seems to imply that a baby would be more likely to have it's tongue out rather than a child, which would make it even more natural...

Again, I emphasize that I admit to ignorance and would like to change that, I'm not meaning to be insulting or offensive myself in anyway.

I have a 3 1/2 year old DD with Down syndrome (officially called Trisomy 21). I think the doll is a great idea. The only issues I have with this particular doll is the hair and the outfit. I know of very few children (no matter what their development entails) that has that much hair. HELLO!!! The outfit is just plain awful. Something out of the 50's.

As for the tongue issue. That is very normal. While a 15 year old or a 20 year old most likely wont have their tongue hanging out a baby up to even the age of 7 very well could. This is a muscle issue. It is called Hypotonia. Its a condition of abnormally low muscle tone (the amount of tension or resistance to movement in a muscle), often involving reduced muscle strength. Hypotonia is not a specific medical disorder, but a potential manifestation of many different diseases and disorders that affect motor nerve control by the brain or muscle strength.

This is one of the symptoms of Down syndrome. Along with heart issues, gastrointestinal issues, speech isss and other things. Not all children with Down syndrome have all these issues, but IIRC, way more than 50% of children with Down syndrome have hypotonia issues. The degree to which effects each child varies as much as the color of someone's hair. Those children who have low to very low muscle tone will have the tongue issues. Its not until they get older and stronger that their tongue no longer protrudes. Same reason they would take longer to learn to walk. Low muscle tone.

I have no problem with the expression on this dolls face. The wider space between the eyes, the smaller nose, the tongue, all are normal for a person/child with Down syndrome. While my DD smiles all the time there are many times, especially when she is tired or concentrating on something that she shows a similar look. Many of the young children we know as part of our family support group have a very similar look. All the kids are happy, but many of them have low muscle tone and still have the tongue issue. Many times when I'm trying to take pictures I will get that look. I would show pictures, but I don't have permission from the other families to share photos of their children.

If you search the internet (especially other photo hosting sites) you'll find lots of pictures of people with Down syndrome. Most pictures will show pictures of the various people with big smiles and looking cute. Which makes perfect sense. Would you post pictures of your child when they look their worst? I know I don't.