DENTON (UNT), Texas -- The new Barbie dolls – with new body types, hair and eye colors, and hairstyles – will be released to stores on March 1. Rania Camille Salman, an adjunct professor in educational psychology at the University of North Texas, is available to discuss the benefits to children that more diverse and representational toys can help bring about.

Reach Salman at 940-369-8048 or by email at a href="mailto:Rania.Salman@unt.edu">Rania.Salman@unt.edu.

Salman says that giving kids a choice in their toys and letting them have the option of playing with toys that look more like them can have positive effects on their development.

 "I think they're definitely beneficial for children," Salman says. "Having media images and toys that represent diversity is better for a child's psyche. I'm often pretty dismissive of the ideology of a single standard of beauty for children, so I think giving children more of a choice is ideal. It's a good first step, but there's a long way to go. Multi-cultural, multi-size dolls for girls and boys is a starting point."

Salman says toy manufacturers seem to be embracing the idea of creating toys that will appeal to a more diverse group of kids.

"Marketing for toys seems to be largely geared around the child as a consumer, so it would make sense for toy manufacturers to begin looking for new ways to sell toys to children," says Salman. "Child development experts will tell you that young children will be drawn to toys that look like them more than anything else. It can be something as simple as hair or eye color. If that encourages play, I'm all for it."