ANN ARBOR, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) — Mattel is celebrating the launch of its new Barbie by partnering with the University of Michigan’s C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital.
The new Barbie is an art therapist, the first doll with a mental health profession.
The event on Thursday was hosted by Mott’s art therapy team in the Jones Family Center.
“We’ve been planning this for a long time since the Art Therapy Barbie came out,” said art therapist Kathleen Richards-Peal. “And we’re just excited to see the turnout. We really feel like celebrations are a part of life and we need to find opportunities to celebrate and party together.”
Days and nights in the hospital can be long, and parents said this is a welcome break from the routine.
“(It’s) a little break away from everything,” said parent Sascha Zurek. “It gets your mind off it. It brings joy to seeing smiles put back on their faces. It’s exciting to interact with other kids because if you’re in your room all day, you kind of miss out on the interactions.”