Candice on Toys and Race

But I Wanted Miko

When it comes to toys and dolls, I have never understood why kids should have dolls that look like them. When I was a kid I wanted Miko, the Asian Pacific Barbie doll. I loved her long black hair and tropical outfits. I don’t know why I never got her. Maybe I never asked for her because I thought I shouldn’t or my mom was uncomfortable about getting me an ethnic Barbie doll.

Whatever the reason, my opinion is even stronger now that I have a bi-racial child. I feel like no one in my family looks alike, so if she wants a blonde doll to be her sister, so be it.

But, I do find it very thoughtful of my friends and family who have gone above and beyond to find dolls, including

• My mom buying the   entire Fisher Price little people collection of families so that my   daughter could have a white mom and black dad. We have the little people   United Nations in our house.
• A shower gift from   my husband’s cousin of bi-racial Real Kidz dolls.
• A shower gift of   lots of little clips and pony tail holders to use in African American   hair.

Even though I don’t think Lili should only have bi-racial dolls to play with, I do think companies who make things celebrating multi-racial families are great and I do want Lili to have some toys that do resemble her and will help her with her self-image. So here are a few sites I like:

www.swirlsyndicate.com Comical tees for multi-racial kids.

www.dollslikeme.com Their collection is impressive. I never knew there were so many items like this out there.

www.simpleasthat.com This is more than a shopping site. A great resource for all  kinds of articles on multi-racial families.

Even if you are not in an interracial relationship, these sites are interesting to check out to help teach kids about diversity.