The Little Doll Studio inspires young kids to think big

Frances Cuomo Perpero reinvents developmental doll play and thoughtful crafts at the Little Doll Studio, a new business that celebrated its grand opening at 137 N. Park Avenue in Rockville Centre on Wednesday afternoon.

The Little Doll Studio inspires young children to think imaginatively by incorporating an interactive learning lab that enables them to dream big. It also offers space for parties, workshops, and open play.

Perpero, an Oceanside resident and mother of two with more than 25 years of corporate and non-profit experience, said she embarked on a new journey into the world of entrepreneurship, with a mission to strengthen children’s self-esteem and encourage them to dream brazenly.

The Little Doll Studio will be hosting a series of summer events, now through Sept. 10, including an interactive experience in celebration of the release of the 2023 major motion picture, “Barbie,” starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling.

During the event, Perpero emphasized the importance of letting children’s imaginations run rampant by building confidence and empowering children through imaginative doll play.

“They’re using their language, they’re sharing, and they’re playing on their own,” Perpero said. “They can dream, they can pretend, and they feel like there’s a good chance it’ll act and move a way. I wanted to create a space that would let the kids explore and let them be.”

She said the inspiration for the movie-themed event goes back to her childhood. In the ‘70s, her parents threw her a Barbie runway party to celebrate her 5th birthday — a tradition which she would continue with her own 5-year-old daughter in 2013.

Perpero said that when she founded the Little Doll Studio in 2022, her business efforts were strengthened by inclusivity and family values.

Not only does open doll play and activities allow children to be imaginative, there are many developmental benefits as well. It helps teach fine motor skills, language development, social empathy, and bonding.

Perpero said that one of the most beloved traditions of owning a doll is cutting its hair in a style that mirrors a professional hair salon. The Little Doll Studio helps by providing kids with scissors, water spray, and paint markers to allow them to think creatively in an unstructred setting. Kids have the options of giving their favorite dolls highlights, cutting off its hair, and transofrming the dolls with the unqiue makeup of their choosing.

“I want them to feel good about it,” Perpero said. “So when they give me feedback like that it’s meaningful, but when they say ‘best day ever,’ I just want to cry.”

The Little Doll Studio also provides children with the opportunity to “Make A Barbie Movie,” by educating them about green screen technology in an accessible way. Using a Barbie Dream House backdrop, they remodel their dolls with makeup, use images with Barbie, and display Barbie dolls wearing green gloves, curating this imaginative, picturesque scene for their dolls.

Perpero said she understands the difficulties of parenthood in an on-demand, digital age, where the entrepreneurial endeavor is just as meaningful for parents, who have the opportunity to breathe, rest, and pull out a book.

“It made me happy that I was able to create a space where parents will be able to breathe for two seconds,” Perpero said. “They watch, enjoy their children, while sitting back without having to worry about them. And that made me feel really good.”

The success of the Little Doll Studio has garnered buzz from parents, children, and the entire Rockville Centre community, including Mayor Francis Murray and former Oceanside youth coordinator Nancy Baxter.

Perpero said that returning families have given reviews on social media and recommended the doll studio to other families, raising significant attention in the community.

“It is such a labor of love that when you’re aligned with doing something that you believe in doing something you feel good about,” Perpero, who commented on the learning curve that comes with opening a business, said. “It’s very, very rewarding. So, I’ve learned that with some jobs, you may settle for temporarily because it helps but when you’re in alignment with what you really love to do, I think it makes a difference.”