From the Toysit archive
I Message Girls Doll and Toy Phone
Meet the brunette I Message Girls doll and red toy handset, learn about its icon messages, and invent a three-message meetup with paper speech bubbles.
The play at a glance
A tiny message starts a bigger story
A red handset, a black top and a red plaid skirt give the pictured I Message Girls set a distinctive look. The brunette doll has a messenger bag and spare fashions for an outing; the child-sized toy phone makes sending a little message part of the play. A meeting at a pretend library, a party invitation or a quick hello can provide the story around that exchange.
How the toy exchange works
The original Mattel instructions show messages made from a selection of small pictures and abbreviations. Players scroll through those choices, select up to six icons and choose whether to send to the doll or another compatible toy phone. The doll’s small phone belongs in the side pouch of her shoulder bag to receive the message. Its light and ring tone announce an arrival, and a reply can then be read on the child-sized handset.
Mattel advises aiming the handset’s antenna toward the receiving phone with a clear path between them. The guide describes best results indoors at close range, up to ten feet, and notes that direct sunlight can interfere. These are the manufacturer’s operating conditions; the full linked sheet supplies the setup and control diagrams.
An adult should manage battery replacement and secure both compartments. The manual specifies three AAA cells for the larger phone and three button cells in the carrying case compartment. Keep loose batteries out of children’s reach and follow the matched instructions.
Try this: the three-message meetup
For this original Toysit activity, make three paper speech bubbles and draw a pretend library on another sheet. The paper messages can use words, pictures or a mixture. Players supply the replies and decide what happens next.
- Send the first bubble: give a meeting place. Draw the library entrance and add a cheerful greeting.
- Reply with one useful question. Which door? What book should we bring? Is a friend coming too?
- Use the third bubble to confirm the plan. Add the missing detail, then place the dolls or paper characters together at the library.
Now reverse the roles. Let the other character suggest a destination, and try expressing the plan with pictures alone. A book, a clock drawing and a smiling face might carry the whole invitation. If a symbol is puzzling, the player receiving it can ask what it means.
The clothes and bag give the meeting a second scene: after arranging the visit, choose an outfit and invent the first thing the characters say when they arrive.
The historical record
Original Toysit coverage
The complete earlier product account and commentary are preserved below as historical coverage.
Barbie and friends come with text messaging phones through which girls can send messages to the dolls or to each other
Barbie friend comes with an instant messaging phone with real working text messaging feature. Girls can send real messages to Barbie doll and receive a message back. Girls can also send messages to friends who have an I Message Girl doll too. Barbie comes with an extra face plate, trendy fashions, and a cool messenger bag. Check out her hip hairstyles and jewelry too.
The concept of dolls that can send and receive instant messages adds an entirely new dimension to the world of imaginative play. These interactive dolls not only serve as a child's beloved companion but also as a gateway to a fantastical world where instant communication becomes part of the story. Children can role-play scenarios where they send their dolls on adventures, missions, or simple day-to-day errands, all while staying in 'contact' through messaging. The real-time interactivity allows kids to feel a deeper sense of connection with their dolls, making the narrative more vivid and the play more engaging. It fosters emotional and cognitive development by encouraging children to think about dialogue, context, and story development. For many kids, this provides a seamless blend of the real and the imaginary, offering a technologically enriched form of traditional play that resonates with the digital age. The novelty of instant messaging integrated into a doll captures the imagination and keeps playtime fresh, exciting, and full of endless possibilities.
Sources and editorial notes
Mattel’s C6785 package photograph and the C6784/C6785 instruction sheet match the brunette doll, outfit and red handset. All three PDF pages were visually reviewed, including the contents, icon controls, placement, replies and battery diagrams. The manual’s nearby messaging system is the basis of the description; broad developmental claims in the older account remain historical. Paper dialogue below is player-created. No physical operation was tested.
- Original Toysit image — Existing same-site image reviewed and retained unchanged.
- Mattel: I Message Girls Barbie Doll, C6785 — Manufacturer description and boxed product image reviewed and visually matched.
- Mattel: I Message Girls instructions (PDF) — Complete three-page original instruction sheet visually reviewed, including both variant drawings, icon messaging, placement, replies and battery information.
- Original Toysit coverage — Complete historical account retained, including its original claims and wording.
Images and descriptions are retained as historical material. How Toysit covers toys.
Created for Toysit by Tabbloza — the artwork in our header.