The best diverse and multicultural toys to celebrate and promote diversity for kids

diverse dolls

by Adejumoke Ilori |
Updated on

Multicultural toys during playdates matter more than ever for our little ones. When it comes to our babies and toddlers, even the little choices we make now can profoundly influence them. Toys aren't just about keeping them entertained—they're how our babies and toddlers start to see the world around them. From the moment they start babbling and reaching out, they soak everything in, from shapes and colours to the faces they see on a daily basis.

“Children learn about themselves through play – so, it’s powerful when they see themselves and their lives reflected in their toys. It builds a sense of belonging and helps them feel good about themselves,”Anita Cleare, parenting coach and developmental psychologist tells Mother&Baby.

That's why representation in toys is so important, even from the earliest days. When our babies and toddlers play with toys that look like the world around them—different colours, different families, different abilities—they learn that everyone's story is important. They're starting to understand that we're all a little bit different and that's what makes life interesting.

“Diverse and inclusive toys challenge traditional gender and racial stereotypes and provide children with a broader range of role models, encouraging children to explore their interests and passions without limitations. A boy who grows up playing with a kitchen set learns that cooking is for everyone, not just for girls. A girl who enjoys construction toys and tools is more likely to believe that engineering and building are open to her too. For a child with a disability, an action figure in a wheelchair shows them that they can be heroes too,” Anita explains.

Choosing toys that embrace inclusivity isn't just about adhering to social norms; it's about teaching our little ones to appreciate and respect diversity right from the start. It's about showing them that there's beauty in every background and ability. These early lessons in playtime help them grow up with open hearts and minds, ready to celebrate what makes each person special.

So, as parents, we have the chance to influence how our children see the world. By picking toys that reflect our diverse and multicultural society, we're not just filling playrooms; we're nurturing a sense of empathy and understanding that will stay with them for life.

Best diverse and multicultural toys in 2024 at a glance:

Including multicultural and diverse toys in your children’s toy collection helps promote racial equality, empathy, tolerance, acceptance, and respect. As they grow, it enlightens them about identity, body positivity, and inclusivity, fostering these values as lifelong traits.

"For parents and educators, inclusive toys can also spark conversations about diversity and discrimination. These discussions are crucial for teaching children the importance of acceptance, inclusion, and equality," Anita explains.

If you're trying to introduce your little ones to a new toy collection, we've curated our favourite diverse toddler and baby toys to get you started. Mother&Baby has compiled a list of the best diverse and multicultural toys to celebrate and promote diversity for kids.

The best diverse and multicultural toys in 2024

Best overall diverse and multicultural toy

Price: £63 (was £64)

myfamilybuilders.com

We highly recommend the My Family Builders Forty-Eight Piece Set. With its countless mix-and-match options, it helps children explore and represent the diverse community they live in. It encourages parents to have conversations about different family structures, gender roles, acceptance, and empathy. This set can be especially beneficial for biracial children, allowing them to understand and appreciate why their parents' skin colours may be different—by mixing and matching to show how mom and dad's backgrounds contribute to their appearance.

16 adult and 16 kid heads are included in the set, along with four large and four small bodies, and four large and four small legs, representing a wide range of genders and ethnicities. It's a delightful way for kids to engage in imaginative play,  while learning about the rich diversity that exists in our world. Designed with small hands in mind, it also helps promote fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

One parent reviewer said: “I love the range of skin tones. This is a great representation of how diverse families are! Thank you My Family Builders for making this a priority.” 

Another parent reviewer said: “We love these blocks. The magnetic feature keeps my infant entertained and my two older kids love making the different family combinations. The quality is fabulous and we are really loving the conversations that naturally occur from the diversity of the characters.”

Pros

  • Encourages exploration of multicultural diversity through play 
  • Allows children to create families that reflect diverse backgrounds and experiences
  • Promotes empathy, understanding, and appreciation for different cultures
  • Fosters inclusivity and celebrates diversity
  • Enhances creativity and imagination during playtime

Cons

  • Requires careful supervision to prevent loss or misplacement of pieces 
  • May be challenging for very young children to handle smaller pieces 

Best toy for inclusivity

Looking for a high-quality Montessori multicultural toy that's both visually appealing and sure to be a hit with kids? Consider the Tender Leaf Toys Wooden Happy Folk Hotel. Part of Tender Leaf Toys' open-ended play collection, this set features nine charming and diverse wooden characters who reside at the Happy Hotel.

When children engage with these characters, they can create all sorts of stories and adventures, which helps them appreciate and understand people who are different from themselves. Playing with these toys also teaches valuable social skills like sharing and communicating with others.

Made from solid wood and completely plastic-free, these figures are designed to be incredibly versatile. They seamlessly fit into any Montessori or open-ended play setup, can be added to dollhouses, or arranged and sorted—an activity kids really enjoy. These characters are an ideal way to introduce our little ones to the concept of inclusivity, which is crucial for their social growth and development.

Pros

  • Made from solid wood, ensuring durability and sustainability
  • Designed for open-ended play, suitable for Montessori and imaginative play setups
  • Features nine diverse wooden characters that promote inclusivity and diversity awareness

Cons

  • Higher price point compared to some plastic alternatives
  • Characters are small, which may not be suitable for very young children prone to putting toys in their mouths. It is suitable for three years and up
Age Recommendation:3 Years +
Size: 19.5 x 6 x 25 cm

Best toy for learning emotions 

Price: £44.98 (was £49.99)

Looking to help your little ones express their emotions through play? The LEGO DUPLO People With Big Emotions set is perfect for that! Designed for preschoolers, they can build and rebuild the 5 characters to reflect the diverse world they see around them. This set includes a variety of colourful bricks and pieces to help toddlers create engaging characters. Plus, with 10 expressive faces, they can easily show and understand different feelings.

One reviewer said: "My grand daughter (aged 2) loved this, and found it amazing and amusing to swap over expressions. It’s great for interactive learning, and we progressed quickly from asking her to ‘make a character happy or sad’, to giving her real life situations such as 'Look, the girl is happy, but what would happen if she heard a loud noise? Yes, she’d be surprised.’ ‘Oh look, the grandma character is sad. What would happen if we gave her chocolate?’ Yes, she’d be smiley.'

Great fun introduction to Lego with big Duplo pieces for little hands. I would imagine this would also be a fun but effective learning device for any children on the autism spectrum, if they needed more assistance with recognising expressions."

Pros

  • Helps children learn to recognise and express emotions through play 
  • Features characters that reflect diversity, promoting inclusivity and cultural awareness 
  • Encourages imaginative play and storytelling as children build and rebuild characters 
  • Supports the development of fine motor skills
  • Can spark conversations about emotions and encourages empathy and understanding 

Cons

  • Pieces can be small and easily lost if not properly stored or managed
Number of pieces71
Item dimensions L x W x H11.8 x 37.8 x 35.4 centimetres
Minimum Age (Months)36

Best toy for representation

This special Asian doll from Miniland is a wonderful way to teach children that all babies are beautiful, even if they don't look like them. It's designed to promote empathy, tolerance, and an appreciation for the diverse beauty in our world. Made from soft vinyl with a delightful vanilla scent, these dolls are not only eco-friendly but also recyclable.

Pros

  • Provides representation of children with Down Syndrome, promoting inclusivity and diversity 
  • Encourages empathy and understanding of individuals with different abilities 
Vinyl 99%
Eyes and hair must be removed to recycle
53x22x37 cm

Best diverse and multicultural toy for families

diverse and multicultural toys The Finger Family by Fabula ToysNotOnTheHighStreet

This set of creative finger puppets is made for playing alone as well as group play. Your child will learn that each family member is different and with that comes their own unique personality, beliefs, religions and physical appearances. The beautifully crafted characters of the Fabula family are of mixed cultures and also represent those with disabilities, which is a great way to encourage kindess and compassion.

One reviewer said: "Lovely set of finger puppets, perfect for creative and make believe play for children and adults alike. Good quality and well made, I like that the range of characters has some modern diversity covered which is somewhat inclusive. Comes with a small drawstring cloth bag for storing together."

Pros

  • There is a collection of 10 tricot puppets designed to educate and entertain your little ones from aged 0-5 years.
  • The Finger Family puppets make for an excellent gift.

Cons

  • Not much left in stock.
<strong>Package Dimensions</strong>:‎22.8 x 20.7 x 8.4 cm; 100 Grams
<strong>Number of pieces:</strong>10
<strong>Assembly Required:</strong>No
<strong>Batteries Required:</strong>No
<strong>Material Type(s):</strong>‎Cotton Blend
<strong>Material Composition:</strong><br>‎100% Cotton Tricot
<strong>Material Care Instructions:</strong>‎Machine Washable

Best diverse and multicultural toy for creativity

This wooden made jigsaw puzzle comes with 8 diverse multiculture figures, which promotes cultural understanding and inclusivity, encouraging an exciting and informative experience for toddlers of all ethnicities and backgrounds. Carefully painted and designed with big, easy-to-hold pieces that are safe for children to use.

One reviewer said: "I love how inclusive this jigsaw puzzle is, my twins loved this. They play with this when they are bored and want to do something together. Thuis is great for them and if you want your kids to understand equality, then this is it"

Pros

  • Ideal for early years or Montessori toy.
  • Helps your child with problem-solving skills, hand-eye coordination and cognitive development.

Cons

  • Not suitable for under 2 year olds.
<strong>Product Dimensions:</strong>21 x 30 x 2 cm <br>
<strong>Manufacturer recommended age:</strong>‎24 months - 10 years 
<strong>Educational Objective(s):</strong>Problem Solving Skill, Dexterity, Hand-Eye Coordination <br>Number of pieces 
<strong>Number of pieces :</strong>25
<strong>Material Type(s):</strong>Wood

Best diverse and multicultural toy for a dollhouse

Made with natural wood, these easily bent dolls are great for sharing and for using your imaginative skills. These intriguing dolls promote a short theater play, while teaching your child about family generations and culture. Ideal for playtime and family interaction in any setting. The doll set contains grandparents, mother, father, son, daughter and two little babies, which can be used for academic purposes.

One reviewer said: "These little figures are cute and will fit well into the old dolls house we have. My grandchildren are going to be very happy when they find out what we have bought for them, they love coming over and spwnding time with us, now we can all play together."

Pros

  • The small wooden dolls can move to sitting, standing, and other bending positions.
  • They have extremely cute clothes.

Cons

  • Suitable for over 2 year olds.
<strong>Product Dimensions:</strong>‎22 x 13 x 3.4 cm; 258.55 Grams
<strong>Number of pieces:</strong>8
<strong>Material Type(s):</strong>Wood
<strong>Age:</strong>3 years

Best diverse and multicultural toy for barbie doll fans

diverse and multicultural toys
Price: £22.99
Alternative retailers
Walmart$35.39View offer

The cleverly made BarbieFashionistas doll comes with a wheelchair, and tells children that as humans, we are not the same. It will also help them to understand that a persons wheelchair is part of his or her body space, should be treated with respect, asnd should not be leant on unless given permission. The Pink heart shaped sunglasses, strioed midi dress, white sneakers and wavy hair is perfect for babrbie fans and ideal for a doll house.

One reviewer: "My Grand daughter wanted this for Christmas. She loved the inclusivity of this Barbie, and wanted a Barbie that had physical challenges. This ticks the box. When she was younger she never understood why people were different, but this helps her."

Pros

  • Her long brunette hair is crimped for a trendy look.
  • She wears a rainbow-striped dress with white sneakers.

Cons

  • The working brakes sold seperately.
<strong>Material Type(s):</strong>Plastic
<strong>Item weight:</strong>‎0.44 Grams
<strong>Number of pieces:</strong>3
<strong>Age range (description):</strong>Kid

Best diverse and multicultural toy for playdates

This beautiful and modern collection of soft dolls reflects cultural diversity. With a mixture of skin tones and colourful clothes, children will adore and cherish these beautiful dolls, as they embolden different ethnicities.

One reviewer said: "This doll is bigger than I thought, perfect for my son and his sensory diet, I was more than pleased with the value and quality of the product. What a clever and fun way to introduce kids to culture and being kind."

Pros

  • Represent children of many backgrounds
  • Beautiful modern clothing.

Cons

  • Machine wash only
<strong>Material: </strong>Fabric
<strong>Height:</strong>36cm
<strong>Age Range:</strong>Suitable from birth

Best diverse and multicultural toy for imagination

The little people figure pack comes with 5 everyday heroes from your community: a teacher, mail delivery worker, firefight, medical professional and a waste management worker. A great way to explain to your little one what you love about your own job, teaching them the value, focusing on the positive and possibilities. A fun way in building hope and inspiration.

One reviewer said: "My Grandson loves these figure as he had some handed down from his cousins, I thought I would get him a new set of his own, he is 4 but plays with them on his trucks. He likes them so much that I got him a second set. one for home and one set for Nanna's! One even looks like me!"

Pros

  • For toddlers and preschool kids ages 1-5 years.
  • Figures sized just right for small hands to grasp and move, helping to strengthen fine motor skills and encourage imaginative play.

Cons

  • Each sold separately and subject to availability.
<strong>Product Dimensions:</strong>‎5.08 x 5.08 x 7.62 cm; 226.8 Grams
<strong>Manufacturer recommended age:</strong>6 years old
<strong>Material Type(s):</strong>Plastic
<strong>Batteries Required: </strong>No

Best diverse and multicultural toy for special features

This stunning Bibi doll is a great way for children with Down Syndrome to relate to, and also for other children to play with too. It comes with special features, and an adorable beautiful smile, a pink spot designed dress and golden blonde hair. it also makes them to understand that a person with Down syndrome has many qualities and attributes.

One reviewer said: "My little face lit up seeing a baby dolly just like her, she hasn't let go of her baby and to see my girl recognise and choose her dolly from a line up of dollies is priceless. I love inclusion. and will always support it"

Pros

  • Comes dressed in a cute spotty dress and has a beautiful smile.
  • Her legs and arms move, as does her head.

Cons

  • Not a lot ledft in stock.
<strong>Manufacturer recommended age:</strong>‎3 years and up
<strong>Number of pieces:</strong>1
<strong>Assembly Required:</strong>No
<strong>Material Type(s):</strong>‎Vinyl
<strong>Age: </strong>3 years and upwards

Best diverse and multicultural toy for confidence

diverse and multicultural toys
Price: £31.15
Alternative retailers
Walmart$43.95View offer

Barbie doll is classy chic, rocking a maxi dress that is decorated with colorful stripes, curly afro hair and white sneakers. She has vitiligo in noticeable areas, but wears them with confidence. For your little one, this will help them to understand skin colour, and those who have Vitiligo will remind them of who they were before the diagnosis, and to feel comfortable in and outside.

One reviewer said: "I absolutely adore this doll. I have vitiligo and it was very noticeable before I did a treatment for it. In middle school and high school I was bullied very badly due to it and I was so unhappy. I felt different. It wasn't as well known back then as it is now. It warms my heart to know it is now being embraced and you shouldn't feel ashamed due to it."

Pros

  • Barbie doll has a more petite body than the original and has vitiligo areas on her face, neck and hands.
  • She wears a colorful striped dress with white sneakers.

Cons

  • Only 5 left in stock
<strong>Product Dimensions:</strong>1.5 x 3 x 10.5 inches
<strong>Item Weight:</strong>2.82 ounces
<strong>Manufacturer recommended age:</strong>36 months - 6 years

Best diverse and multicultural toy for human race

diverse and multicultural toys
Price: £12.99

This picture book about diversity promotes acceptance, tolerance, and kindness for all. It shows that irrespective of our own unique qualities and race, we are all an essential part of a bigger picture and should be treated equally.

One reviewer said: "We’ve had this book a while, since lock down I think? But we always come back to it! My little boy is five and he struggles with concentration and focus but he likes the rhyming and looking for the right picture, perfect for us."

Pros

  • Celebrates the differences in all of us. 
  •  A fun and educational search book that focuses on diversity and acceptance. 

Cons

  • Only suitable for 3-8 year olds.
<strong>Dimensions</strong>: 21.59 x 0.2 x 21.59 cm
<strong>Reading age:</strong><strong>‎ </strong>3 - 5 years
<strong>Language: </strong>English
<strong>Paperback</strong>: 32 pages

Best for kindness

Get ready to have a tea party with Kacy! This 18-inch doll has sparkly dark-brown eyes that open and close, and her long and silky hair is easy to comb and style. Kacy has a removable prosthetic leg, but that doesn’t stop her from living life and doing the things that she loves doing. Made with beautiful heart designs for a a unique look, she even has a cuddly soft body and can move her neck, arms, and legs making it easy for when your little one wants to dress her up.

One reviewer said: "I am very happy to see a beautiful doll that is different, this doll represents all of the special children that are often not represented in a toy, it teaches my daughter to have compassion and that not everyone was made the same, and that's the beauty in this doll, the hair is so soft, almost feels like real hair! Her beautiful eyes open and close when she lays down, her prosthetic leg also comes off and on."

Pros

  • This doll represents all of the special children that are often not represented in a toy.
  • The quality is great and you can get some more outfit to change it up.

Cons

  • Not much left in stock.
<strong>Age: </strong>3 years old
<strong>Height: </strong>18-inch Doll
<strong>Features: </strong>Kacy has a cuddly soft body with plastic arms and legs that rotate to easily change outfits.

Best diverse and multicultural toy for Design

This gorgeous looking albino girl doll, scented with vanilla, comes with an all vinyl body and sleepy eyes, great for those bedtime snuggles. Her hair can be easily styled and braided, comes in an African print leaf looking outfit iand is hand washable at 30 degrees. Albinism is a herited condition, which can lead to light skin, hair and eyes - something that happens when someone has less melanin in their body. So, this unique doll will teach your child inclusion.

One reviewer said: "I recently just purchased this for my niece and her eyes lit up knowing a doll looked just like her, it was a lovely thing to see. She never quite understood her skin colour, but now she is so comfortable in her appearance"

Pros

  • Comes in a beautiful african dress.
  • Unique features.

Cons

  • Not much left in stock.
<strong>Dimensions</strong>:45cm
<strong>Outifts: </strong>Hand washable at 30 degrees.
<strong>Features: </strong>Albino girl doll, scented with vanilla, all vinyl body with sleepy eyes.
<strong>Age: </strong>Toddler

Best diverse and multicultural toy for religion

The crochet hijab doll with a matching prayer mat is made from 100% premium cotton. It comes in two sizes: large (28cm/11in.) and medium (22cm/9in.) and are gorgeously dressed in a pink gown and brown hijab. A hijab is a headscarf worn by Muslim women, which covers up the head and neck, but leaves the face open. They come in different colours and shapes and are often matched with womens outfits. This is a great toy for 4 years old and above and will teach them about different religions.

One reviewer said: "Great communication, very friendly. Tailored order for me and delivery was on time. Quality is outstanding! My daughters love their dolls and I will most certainly buy more for my little sister, who really loves playing with and adores them."

Pros

  • The dolls are very goodf quality.
  • Handmade with cotton.

Cons

  • Running out of stock quite quickly.
<strong>Made: </strong>Handmade
<strong>Materials:</strong>Cotton
<strong>Height:</strong>11 inches

Best diverse and multicultural toy for fun

The 33 pieces of Miniland family diversity blocks, feature 1 roulette, 2 sheets, 16 cards and a brochure. A brilliant game with a wheel to construct and create different kinds of family members. Suitable from 3 to 6 year olds, this mind-blowing toy helps with understanding the different kinds of family that one can have in modern society and encourages a respect for diversity.

One reviewer said: "Got this for grandchildren as a gift for Christmas.Thuis game can also be played with older children, make figures to play with younger children, such a great way to all play"

Pros

  • Contains 33 piece, 1 roulette, 2 sheets, 16 cards, brochure 
  • Family diversity blocks, a game with a wheel to build deferent

Cons

  • Recommended for 3 to 6 years age child
<strong>Measures: </strong>17 cm length 
<strong>Pieces: </strong>33 piece, 1 roulette, 2 sheets, 16 cards, brochure
<strong>Age: </strong> 3 to 6 years age child
<strong>Number of players:</strong>8
<strong>Material Type(s): </strong>‎Plastic

Best diverse and multicultural toy for imagination

Ken doll inspires playdates and comes with a manual wheelchair and ramp, so he can easily get in and out of the Barbie Dreamhouse (that your little one has put on her christmas list). The ken doll also expresses his own fashion sense and wears blue shorts and a tie dye sleeveless -shirt, teaching children that the world is full of possibilities.

One reviewer said: "My granddaughter asked for this specific Ken character probably because her Mum uses a wheelchair so quite rightly thinks of this inclusive toy as normal as all the other characters!"

Pros

  • He wears a white top with blue and yellow tie-dye print, black shorts, white sneakers and silvery sunglasses.
  • Ken doll comes with a wheelchair that has rolling wheels and a working brake, plus a ramp.

Cons

  • Only suitable for over 3 year olds.
<strong>Age: </strong>Not suitable for children under 3 years old.
<strong>Height:</strong>15 inches/ 38cm.
<strong>Important:</strong>To be used under the direct supervision of an adult.

Best diverse and multicultural toy for sensory

diverse and multicultural toys
Price: £26.99

These plush baby dolls are super cute, soft and the perfect size for toddlers and even older children. With a mix of skin tones and happy faces, cut little hats and little pinafores, this is for sure going to bring your little one comfort. a great way to help with learning skills likem planning and sharing, problem solving and creativity.

One reviewer said: "This item comes vacuum packed and when I opened it at firstI, They looked wrinkled I left it for a few days and then I used a steamer to really fluff it up. All the babies are cute. I’m now happy and overall the toy looks much better."

Pros

  • Very soft fabric that is comfortable for children.
  • Diversity sofyt toys that will teach your little one love and kindness.

Cons

  • They come vacuum packed.
<strong>Package Dimensions:</strong>27.7 x 26.5 x 6.4 cm; 420 Grams
<strong>Manufacturer recommended age:</strong>3 years and up
<strong>Number of pieces:</strong>6
<strong>Material Type(s):</strong>plush
<strong>Age:</strong>Toddler

Best diverse and multicultural toy for fashion

diverse and multicultural toys
Price: £7.76
Alternative retailers
Target$5.49View offer
Walmart$9.96View offer
Newegg$13.99View offer

The adorable Chelsea doll with scoliosis, which is a curvature in the spine, comes dressed in lemon coloured pink dress and a removable brace. With golden looking and brunette hair this doll will give your little one more ways to spark great adventures. Scoliosis is twisting and curvature of the spine, and is first noticed by a change in appearance of the back.

One reviewer said: "Wow, we were so excited to find a “scoliosis” doll! Even though my daughter didn’t have to wear a brace, she had scoliosis surgery and 100% related to and appreciated this little doll and are donating another one to the hospital where a lot of kids wear back braces. You can snap and unsnap the brace to remove it, and the doll’s back is actually curved!! Huge kudos to Mattel for representing a fairly common osteo issue that is not often seen in media, let alone in a doll!"

Pros

  • Young children are able to learn about others with disabilities and accept them.
  • This doll is very cute and incredibly special for its representation of scoliosis in children. 

Cons

  • Not much left in stock.
<strong>Product Dimensions:</strong>‎3.17 x 6.35 x 14.2 cm; 18 Grams
<strong>Manufacturer recommended age:</strong>3 years and up
<strong>Material Type(s):</strong>‎Plastic
<strong>Assembly Required</strong>No

Best diverse and multicultural toy for scent

This doll is hearing impaired and includes a hearing aid, and if your kid loves having tea parties with their toys, then this baby doll made of high-quality soft vinyl is perfect. With arms and legs that can fully rotate allowing the doll to sit, stand or lie down will have your child creating chilhood memories.

One reviewer said: "My son loves this baby. He calls him See Saw. I have found it difficult to find a doll for my children that are anatomically correct. This is our 3rd Miniland Baby Doll. They smell very nice, the scent is not over powering for my sensitive nose, but might be for some. The scent doesn't smell artificial. I wish I had reason to purchase all the dolls!"

Pros

  • Suitable for children with special needs.
  • Made of soft vinyl, resilient and flexible.

Cons

  • Has a vanilla scent, maybe not be suitable if you have allergies.
<strong>Material: </strong>100% vinyl
<strong>Height: </strong>38cm
<strong>Age: </strong>Suitable for 10 months+
<strong>Features: </strong>Anatomically correct, hearing aid, glasses, soft, flexible

Best diverse and multicultural toy for language

Has your child ever wondered in awe what people were talking about in their mother tongue? Well, this interesting baby doll speaks English, Finnish, French, Italian, Russian and German and says 24 phrases in 6 languages, amazing right? This 18 inch doll comes with shiny long dark brown black curly hair that you can brush, and will promote language and friendship.

One reviewer said: "I was looking for a doll for my 3 year old daughter that could speak the right sentences. Some reviews said that the doll only speaks a few words or phrases. The doll is very beautiful and makes a high-quality impression. She speaks 24 different sentences per language. You can adjust the language on your back using a small slider. There is English, German, Italian, French, Russian and Finnish. And the doll's hair is really great."

Pros

  • Her eyes close when she lies down.
  • An exciting asnd educational toy that helps your child to develop an ear for 6 different languages.

Cons

  •  Only suitable for 3 to 5 year old girls and boys.
<strong>Package Dimensions:</strong>46.9 x 25.2 x 14.2 cm; 1.2 Kilograms
<strong>Manufacturer recommended age:</strong>‎3 years and up
<strong>Material Type(s):</strong>‎Plastic

Best diverse and multicultural toy for building

Dena is a fun, clever and creative toy, suitable for babies and above. Made of food-grade platinum silicone, the same quality material as dummies, teethers and baking moulds. this wooden toy willl teach your child different shades of skin tones and motor skills.

One reviewer said: "A lovely sand friendly way for kids to understand colours and race, I love this and will be passing onto my future kids. at the moment my nephews come to mine on the weekends and have fun playing with them"

Pros

  • Can be used by babies, pre-schoolers and beyond in many diverse ways.
  • It can be used in the freezer, oven and is dishwasher safe.

Cons

  • Only a few left in stock.
<strong>Dimensions:</strong>7.3 cm x 13.6 cm x 4.5 cm
<strong>Weight: </strong>0.59 kg
<strong>Material:</strong>100% platinum-based silicone
<strong>Recommended age:</strong>Toddler
<strong>Includes:</strong>12 pieces Dëna kids.
<strong>Wash:</strong>Dishwasher, oven and freezer safe.

Best diverse and multicultural toy for football

This wooden football skittles set is beautifully handmade from rubber wood, making it safe for children to use. This traditional game is popular and can be used in the garden or in the comfort of your own home. Great for rainy and sunny weather, this will teach your kids team work and respect.

One reviewer said: "planning on buying this for my sons birthday soon, he is a massive football fan and this is just perfect. He saw it at a friends house and really iked it and he is in for a surprise".

Pros

  • Each skittle is 15.2 cm high.
  • Great for adults and children.

Cons

  • Not suitable for children under 3 years.
<strong>Contents:</strong>6 skittles + 3 balls + bag
<strong>Product Size</strong>: Each skittle is 15.2 cm high
<strong>Age:</strong>Not suitable for children under 3 years.

Best diverse and multicultural toy for adventure

The very nice wood dress up toy will encourage exercise and hand muscles, in order to develop fine motor skills of children. With different outfits to choose from: classy, sporty and casual set of clothes, your child will discover themselves, their passions, and their purpose.

One reviewer said: "Colourful, nicely made pieces and stored in its own box. Enables children in imaginary play and designing characters. Bought as a Christmas present for my little fashion designer, my daughter."

Pros

  • Wooden puzzle box with compartments for easy storage.
  • Made of high-quality smooth wood material.

Cons

  • Only suitable for 3 to 6 year olds.
<strong>Product size: </strong>31.4*14.5*2.7CM
<strong>Product weight:</strong>0.7KG
<strong>Material: </strong>Wood
<strong>Age: </strong>3 years and upwards

As parents, we want our kids to embrace the beautiful diversity around them. That's why playing with toys that celebrate different cultures and backgrounds is so important, even if your little one hasn't had first-hand experience.

When kids play with toys that look like them, it boosts their confidence. But it's also great to introduce them to toys that represent other kids, helping them learn about different people and places.

In today's world, our kids will grow up in diverse communities where understanding and empathy are crucial. These toys can teach them these values early on, while also sparking their imagination and creativity.

“Play is how young children learn about the world and make sense of it. The information children collect through play informs their beliefs (about themselves and others), their values and their actions. So, giving children access to diverse and inclusive toys and books is impactful. Playing with diverse and inclusive toys helps children feel like they belong, be authentic, develop empathy and understand the world,” Anita says.

So, let's give our kids the chance to discover the colourful world we live in through these awesome multicultural toys!

About the expert

Anita Cleare MA AdvDip is a parenting speaker, writer and coach who supports working parents to balance successful careers with being a parent. With an academic background in developmental psychology, Anita has a talent for helping parents to step back and reflect on parent-child dynamics and implement small changes that make a huge difference. An accredited Triple P® parenting facilitator, Anita has been working in family support for 20 years.

Adejumoke Ilori is a Commercial Content Writer for Mother&Baby. She is a mum to a little girl and has worked for various digital platform. She has produced content that empowers women from all walks of life by sharing real life stories based on relationships, loving yourself and motherhood. She has also worked for OK! and New Magazine, writing product reviews, covering fashion and beauty, the latest celebrity news and lifestyle. Adejumoke enjoys spending quality time at home with her daughter creating precious memories – doing things like spa nights and grabbing popcorn and cuddling up.

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