Easy DIY Multicultural Dolls

When you look around the dolls and figurines in your child’s playroom, what do you see?

When I was a child, almost every commercially available doll had white skin and Western features. (And usually blond hair.)

While there is much more diversity of skin tones and ethnicities in children’s toys today, they can still be expensive and hard to find. Parents, sadly, still must use extra effort to incorporate a range of cultures into the playroom.

An easy way to “do it yourself” is with DIY multicultural peg dolls.

Why are multicultural dolls important?

Children need to see themselves reflected in their toys and books at playtime. For children of color, this can be critical to build their esteem and sense of identity. Every child should see their ethnicity and culture reflected in the world around them.

But, too often, white characters dominate books and dolls for children.

For white children, multicultural toys are important, too. As Rudine Sims Bishop said, “If they see only reflections of themselves, they will grow up with an exaggerated sense of their own importance and value in the world – a dangerous ethnocentrism.”

Will these peg dolls guarantee that your child is anti-racist? No, of course not. But better representation in their playroom is an early and easy step to help your kids to view all ethnicities and cultures as respected, and equally deserving of occupying space. Children’s attitudes about race and prejudice develop very early. Intentional design of your playroom is a must!

Why to D.I.Y. (Do it Yourself)?

Primarily, we embarked on this project because I scoured online retailers in early 2019 and could not find exactly what I wanted for my child. I wanted dolls without faces to promote more imaginative play. I also wanted a variety of skin tones, and brightly colored bodies to add a cheerful splash.

These multicultural peg dolls are both an art project for kids AND a teachable moment. While you paint the peg dolls, you can discuss with your children the lack of representation in children’s books and toys. Tell them about the toys you had (or didn’t have) as a child, and what you wished you’d had. Encourage them to notice when a television show or a book has all white characters, and that this is a form of racism.

DIY Multicultural Peg Doll Supply List:

Here’s what we used. Feel free to use your own supplies, but affiliate links are provided here for your convenience. See disclosures.

• Woodpeckers wooden “dad” dolls
• Acrylic paint for skin tones (white, nutmeg brown, burnt umber, and black)
• Acrylic paint for the bodies. This is up to your preference! (I used true red, terra cotta, banana yellow, leaf green, periwinkle, purple mixed with cranberry rose)
• Painter’s tape
• Palette
• Paint brushes with small heads
• Optional: Mod podge or sealer

How to Make Multicultural Rainbow Peg Dolls at Home

We upcycled a tin foil tray to use as a palette and mix black, brown, and white to achieve many skin tone shades.

First wrap the painter’s tape around the body of the peg doll. Paint the head with any skin tone, using a variety of shades. Let dry for a couple of hours.

After the head dries, unwrap the painter’s tape and paint the body using any colors from the rainbow you wish.

We used bright red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. (See above for precise paint names.)

If you worry about little ones putting the dolls in their mouths, but sure to use non-toxic paint. To ensure these last a long time, consider a sealant such as Mod Podge.

I love how they turned out!

The Real Work as Parents

Of course, examining our own biases as parents are even more important because those are the attitudes we will pass on to our children. This study indicates that mothers’ implicit attitudes are significant predictors of children’s attitudes.

I first drafted this post in March of 2019, but did not post immediately because I wanted to question my intentions and ensure that our family engaged in more comprehensive anti-racism efforts.

Resources about anti-racism for adults, educators, and children have been widely circulated since the summer months of 2020. I urge you to focus on a few to avoid overwhelm and lack of action.

To be clear, my anti-racism journey is not complete, and for most white folks it is a lifelong journey. I am not an expert on this subject and frequenly look to the following folks who focus on anti-racism and parenting/education:

A Conscious Kid

Liz Kleinrock, Teach and Transform

Naomi O’Brien, Read Like a Rock Star

Lanesha Tabb, Education with an Apron

Ryse T., Teaching with Mx. T

Remember, if you are a white person entering the spaces of these BIPOC (Black, indigenous, and people of color), do so respectfully. Please listen first and foremost, do not ask for or demand additional free labor beyond what they have offered you, and compensate them for their work when possible. Sit with uncomfortable feelings before speaking about them, do not pit the opinions of two BIPOC against each other, and work to center the feelings of those most impacted; not yours.

If you’d like to support black-owned toy shops instead of making your own, check out Puzzle Huddle, Kido, Malaville Toys, Little Likes Kids, Kids Swag, Ikuzi Dolls, and the Black Toy Store.

These dolls are a wonderful anti-bias tool and means to support independent play among toddlers, preschoolers, and even older kids.

For more activities and setups that facilitate independent play, get this free guide here: