creating elaborate Barbie fashion designs, or acting out silly stories with the dolls. The key is to keep an open mind and find ways to make the experience engaging for both you and your child.

Mattel will sell the dolls exclusively on Barbie.com at first while it negotiates with retailers for extra shelf space to make room for the new bodies and their clothes alongside the original.

“I can vividly remember my sister playing with her favorite Barbie dolls for hours when we were kids,” Haughton said in a statement. “She would make them sing, dance and perform little concert ...