The mermaid paper doll has accidentally appeared among my daughters’ games. Originally there was only a sketch for the Waldorf Mermaid Doll. Once the girls saw it, they asked for a coloring book with the same picture, so, I printed copies out for them. Then I came up with an idea to cut the printable paper dolls and play with them. The more mermaids there were, the more exciting the game my daughters had.

There appeared the mermaids – the wicked witches who got to die during the game, as the girls creased and tore them in pieces, sometimes into tiny ones. This was a sort of psychological exercise that got the girls express and gets rid of their inner hidden aggressiveness towards the outer world, including even me.

Every time the coloring-cutting-out-process keeps my girls occupied for at least an hour. How grateful I am to this serendipitous sketch!

To make the image perfect, I applied to a professional illustrator, whom I have been constantly working with. She sketched my mermaid in a special program and added some sea theme elements to the illustration: some shells, water bubbles, and fish. It’s even more entertaining to play with the updated paper doll. You can download a jpg digital paper doll on my websate. https://apalipalka.com/shop/misc/mermaid-paper-doll/

There are two options available: one doll or two dolls in A4 format. Btw, the smaller paper dolls play the role of “daughters”.)

The name of my brand Apalipalka originated from my childhood memory. When I was three years old, I came up with a game which both my parents and I found rather amusing.

I squatted at the one end of the room, shouted Apalipalka and ran to the far side of the room. I did so many times. The audience, my family, were delighted with my invention and excited to see my performance.

I used this gibberish to name my doll making project, which brings joy to children and urges them to fantasize.

Find your a Waldorf doll

In psychology, there is a concept known as the transitional object, developed by Donald Winnicott, a specialist in children’s pediatrics and psychology. He introduced the term of a fairly good mother to describe a mother who fully adapts to her infant’s needs. As the child grows, the mother decreases her degree of adaptation.

What does “transitional object” mean? With “transition”, Donald Winnicott means any approachable piece of fabric — a part of a sheet or blanket that the baby approaches with his or her face. The mother can also provide her child with such a transitional object — for instance, a natural fiber doll, e.g. a Waldorf cuddle doll. In the early stages of infant’s life, the mother is closely connected to her child, creating the illusion that the breast is a part of them and is under their magical control.

Also, it’s mother’s goal to gradually break this illusion. The transitional object, cuddle doll, is a symbol of the breast. It serves to replace mother or her breast. It simplifies the process of weaning; however, you should introduce the cuddle doll to the infant in advance to build gentle object relationship.

I had held the doll close to my breast several times while breastfeeding before giving the lovely doll to my daughters. It had helped to absorb my scent.

The child declares his or her rights to own this particular object, the сuddledoll, and we acknowledge these rights. The сuddledoll becomes their valuable possession and even property!

Waldorf сuddle doll is a great supportive measure during infant’s sleep time. It gives comfort when feeling lonely and sad and also protects against anxiety, especially when the mother isn’t around.

The cuddle doll is appropriate for kids of 4-12 months old. Take the Waldorf cuddle doll along with you on walks or trips.

The child holds the cuddle doll tenderly and treats it with love.

Find your a Waldorf cuddle doll