The 10 Best LOL Surprise Dolls
Editor's Notes
October 28, 2020:
Since LOL Surprise often releases new collections, we updated this list extensively, removing some discontinued series and replacing them with more recent offerings. We also made an effort to focus on variety for this update, while still making sure that plenty of classic options remained on the list.
Lights Glitter dolls come with a uv flashlight that transforms their outfits and makeup, making them glow with bright neon colors. O.M.G. Roller Chick is a good choice for older kids, as the figure is meant to be an older sister to the smaller dolls. Since it's an articulated figure, it can be posed to show off your child's latest fashion creation. All-Star B.B.s are a good choice for kids who are interested in cheer or other sports, as they come with pom-poms and other accessories meant to encourage team spirit. If you have boys who want to get in on playtime, or girls who want more variety in their collection, Boys Series 3 is a good option. And for some cute companions who can keep the original dolls company, the Makeover Lils line comes with pets, little sisters, and little brothers.
May 02, 2019:
This list was extensively updated and expanded to include the great variety of options as the popularity and collectatbility of these dolls continues to explode. No longer confined to arriving in balls, the universe of LOL Suprise dolls has grown.
We kept some of the basics like the Lil Sisters and Confetti Pop, and even added the Bling and Glitter Glam as they are the traditional way of receiving and un-boxing the dolls. They make a great lower cost gift in most cases and so can be bought in multiples for those trying to collect a complete set.
We added the Fuzzy Pets, Hairgoals, and Under Wraps because they give older fans more to do with the toy, like styling the hair, or solving the secret codes to open the capsule, plus they have 15 surprises instead of the usual 7.
The Eye Spy Bigger surprise took the top spot for being a great option for a special birthday or larger Christmas present for the child already enthusiastic about collecting these dolls. While the balls and capsules are more stocking-stuffer sized, the bigger line gives the child a ton of toys for the price and expands their collection.
Why LOL Surprise Dolls Are Good For Kids
Children often use their toys as venting mechanisms for what's happening in their lives.
It seems these days children are becoming busier and busier. While parents perhaps used to wait until children reached their teen years to subject them to several after-school and extracurricular activities, today even young kids are being overscheduled. While this may put them in a better position to get into those prestigious preparatory high schools, it doesn't leave much time for play — which is rather important for a child's development. LOL Surprise Dolls and similar toys provide a compact, portable way for children to take imaginative games wherever they go. Even if they only have a few minutes to engage in play between scheduled activities, if they have a few of these dolls and their accessories with them, they can participate in a quick round of imaginative play and decompress between their more rigorous tasks.
As children collect more of the toys, and the stickers and accessories that come with them, they can develop their story-telling skills. They can create story lines for each doll, building upon their make-believe lives by having them befriend each other, utilizing their accessories, and more. This, in turn, can help kids develop language skills. Your kids will love telling you all about the adventures created for their LOL Dolls, and in doing so they'll become more comfortable with oration, and having attention on them while they recite details and information.
LOL Surprise Dolls can also be beneficial to your bond with your children. You can learn a lot about what is important to your kids, what's been going on in their lives, and what has been bothering them through the narratives they create with their toys. Children often use their toys as venting mechanisms for what's happening in their lives. If your kids are jealous of their siblings, being bullied at school, or dream of engaging in certain activities like ice skating or playing the piano, they may very well act out these scenarios through their dolls, sending you important messages.
Using LOL Surprise Dolls To Teach Responsibility
In addition to being entertaining, LOL Surprise Dolls can play a role in teaching children about responsibility in many areas. Birth order can play a major role in how children develop, and if you are hoping your eldest children can benefit from their position in taking care of younger siblings to come, they can get a little practice through these dolls. LOL Surprise Dolls actually come in multiple sizes. The largest balls contain LOL Tots or "Big Sisters," the medium balls contain baby dolls or "Lil sisters," and the smaller balls contain pets. When elder siblings have all sizes, they can learn to identify as the "Big Sister" and you can talk to them about how the "Big Sister" will look after the "Lil Sisters." Using the various accessories that come with the dolls, children can create scenes through which "Big Sisters" feed, dress, and play with their "Little Sisters," just as real life siblings do together.
If your children are struggling with the frustrating and embarrassing issue of wetting the bed, or themselves, the LOL Surprise Dolls can come in handy again.
The smallest LOL Surprise Dolls are pets. If your kids have been asking for a pet, you should consider getting them one since the child-pet bond actually has a few surprising benefits. Of course, pet ownership is a lot of work and the the LOL Surprise Pets can help you teach kids about animal ownership before the real thing happens. The various toys come with all sorts of accessories like grooming tools, poop scoopers, and water bottles. You can talk to your kids about cleaning their animals, picking up their waste, staying on top of feedings, and other important tasks, all while using the LOL Surprise Doll Pets and their various accessories to demonstrate the concepts.
If your children are struggling with the frustrating and embarrassing issue of wetting the bed, or themselves, the LOL Surprise Dolls can come in handy again. Some of the dolls pee, and while children may not always be comfortable talking about this subject, they may be more likely to if they can do so using a favorite toy. When the dolls pee, you can ask children why that happens to them when outside of the restroom, or if they know how to handle it when they feel the urge to go. The dolls can provide comfort to children when discussing these issues.
Why The LOL Surprise Packaging Works
Perhaps one of the things kids enjoy most about the LOL Surprise Dolls is the element of anticipation. Each doll comes in a ball containing multiple layers. The layers will have things like stickers, secret messages, and – finally – the doll. This unique packaging is ideal for both children and parents. Whenever a birthday or major holiday comes up, parents are met with the predicament: what presents should I get my young child? When children unwrap most presents, there is usually just one of two ways it can go. They are very curious and excited when tearing off that gift paper, and then when they find the toy inside, they're either thrilled if it's what they expected, or deeply disappointed if it isn't. The latter is a tough situation for everyone.
The layers will have things like stickers, secret messages, and – finally – the doll.
With LOL Surprise Dolls, kids get both the comfort in knowing they did actually get what they wanted, because they can tell from the ball what it is, while still getting that fun element of surprise since they don't know exactly which doll will be inside. Even the parents purchasing the toy don't know exactly which one they've picked out — the only thing guaranteed is which series the toy is from (like the Bling or Pet series).
If you want to make a video of your children opening their Christmas or birthday presents, but want to avoid the disaster of catching a total meltdown on tape, LOL Surprise Dolls can prevent that from happening. So long as your kids are happy to see that little ball, you know they'll be excited to see which doll is inside. One last perk is that, if you have multiple children and some open their balls to find a doll they already have, they can just trade with one another to complete their collection.