Dressing, styling and caring for Lola
Pick Lola up and the first thing you notice is the weight. Her rubberwood body feels solid and smooth, nothing like a hollow plastic doll. Her hair is soft wool, so children can smooth it and style it, and it gives them something to look after rather than just look at. Her muslin and knitted dress comes off easily, and she wears comfy cotton underpants beneath it. For a child around three, dressing a doll is where independent dressing skills start: lining up the arms, working the dress over her head and getting the underpants back on. That handling builds the same finger control they'll lean on for their own clothes.
Posing and storytelling
Lola's arms and legs rotate, so she can sit at a table, lie down for a nap or stand beside the other toys. She stands unaided, which matters more than it sounds. A doll that stays upright lets a child focus on the story rather than propping her up. Three-year-olds tend to act out simple routines like getting dressed, bath time and bed. By five or six the same doll carries tea parties, outings and pretend school days with a full cast of characters. She works well for solo play, since she's silent and needs no batteries. She's also easy to share: two children can dress her and take turns deciding what happens next. Tender Leaf made Lola to live in the Tender Leaf Mulberry Mansion with Furniture, so she slots straight into a bigger small-world setup.
Size and care
Lola measures about 25cm tall (roughly 12cm wide and 7cm deep) and weighs about 190g, small enough to carry from room to room and sit on a bookshelf between games. The manufacturer recommends her for ages 3 and up. Keep her for indoor play, away from direct sunlight and heat. Wipe her clean with a damp cloth and a 1:1 mix of water and vinegar, and never soak her. Browse more in our Dolls and Accessories range.