The Web's Number One Doll and Dollhouse Resource

Doll House Play – doll houses can be very useful in encouraging imaginative play in your children. Our technological modern life can easily leave little time for childhood imaginative play and can also stunt our children’s ability to author their own creative play.

Modern children are often accustomed to manufactured toys with defined purposes, television and films that present someone else’s imagination, computers that use other people’s programs, and classes in dance or sports in which someone instructs them in what to do. As parents we must strive to nurture our children’s ability to engage in creative, imaginative play.

Child directed imaginative play fosters and builds creativity. Creativity will serve your children their whole lives. Creativity allows us to see new solutions to problems, see the “light at the end of the tunnel”, envision new inventions and the list goes on. We give our children the ability to create their own lives when we allow them as children to create their own play.

Dolls houses are perfect for imaginative play. They give our children basic objects that they come into contact with every day but allows them the opportunity to do what they want with them. Many children when playing with a dolls house will make up their own families, scenarios and games. You may see your child bring a teddy bear into play with their doll family, they are not restricted in the items they play with and this allows them to be creative.

Many children will put the bathroom furniture in the bedroom or kitchen simply because they see it as being easier to use there. They use logic and if you sit and talk to them while they play you will be amazed at the ideas they come up with. Develop your child’s creativity early on and it will serve them all through their lives.

Madame Alexander's Cissy dolls are one of the most sought after in her vast collection of dolls.

1955 was the first year that the Cissy was released, although the face had been used on the walkers of the previous years. The new Cissy was called "A high fashion doll with class." She was 20" to 21", had a figure of a debutante, high heel feet and oversleeved, jointed elbowed arms. She was a walker. Trademark 686,168, Debutante Series (except Queen).

The Cissy doll was used extensively in magazine ads, advertising Yardley of London. These magazine ads from the 1950s are also collector's items.

Also, in the 1950s, Madame Alexander was asked by the British Government to make a doll to represent Queen Elizabeth II. She manufactured a 20" Cissy doll as Queen Elizabeth II, dressed in a court gown of white brocade with a blue garter sash and star. Her tiara, earrings and bracelets are jeweled with rhinestones and rubies and she wears long white gloves. This doll, in excellent condition, can sell for over $1200.00.

Madame Alexander designed a complete wardrobe for Cissy which included lingerie, street and evening clothes and many accessories. Each year, special dolls were issued wearing complete ensembles. Cissy was manufactured until 1959. From 1959 to 1961, her face was used for portrait dolls. The Madame Alexander Doll Company has re-issued Cissy. However, both the face and body molds have been changed. She is still being made today and still sought after by collectors.

The final word is Madame Alexander dolls have always been collectible and should continue to be. They should endure in time and value.