A taxpayer-funded medical school has developed what researchers are calling a first-of-its-kind project: paper dolls with removable body parts designed to teach children as young as four about gender identity. The project started at the University of Minnesota Medical School and is now being sold commercially, with plans to place the dolls in some classrooms this fall. For Christian parents and concerned citizens, this story raises important questions about what public institutions are teaching young children and whether parents are being given a voice.

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From the Daily Caller:

The dolls, which have gender-neutral names including “Sam,” “Rory,” “Avery,” and “Parker,” include removable internal and external genitalia and more than 100 interchangeable clothing, hairstyle, and accessory pieces designed to facilitate conversations about gender and anatomy, according to the MyGender Dolls website.

The project originated at the University of Minnesota Medical School’s Institute for Sexual and Gender Health after more than six years of research. It has since been spun into a commercial venture, MyGender Dolls. The university’s research reportedly included sessions in which transgender-identifying and other children, along with their parents, were paid between $20 and $60 to play with the dolls and discuss gender and anatomy. In addition, photographs presented during a 2024 conference reportedly showed prototype dolls depicting various stages of gender transition, including removable anatomy and interchangeable clothing.

The venture was founded by Dianne Berg and Nic Rider, both licensed therapists and faculty members at the university. Rider’s university biography references a specialization in transgender health for children and adolescents.

The dolls are designed to be used by teachers, school counselors, pediatricians, and mental health professionals. But not everyone agrees this is appropriate for young children. Dr. Quentin Van Meter, a past president of the American College of Pediatricians, warned that young children simply cannot tell the difference between fantasy and reality. He also raised concerns that the dolls could be used to convince struggling children that gender confusion is the root of their unhappiness, rather than exploring other causes.

University officials say no taxpayer money was used to turn the research into a commercial product, though they have not said how much public funding went into the research itself. That distinction matters, because the University of Minnesota Medical School receives about $15 million each year in state funding, and the institute’s total research budget is roughly $1.4 billion, according to its 2025 annual report. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat who has backed several transgender-related policies, received an award from the same institute in 2023. His office did not respond when the New York Post asked for comment. It is also still unclear whether parents will be given the option to keep their children from participating if the dolls are introduced in schools.

God’s Word is clear that He created people male and female, and that parents, not government institutions, are meant to guide their children in understanding who they are (Genesis 1:27, Deuteronomy 6:7). When a publicly funded university develops tools aimed at reshaping how four-year-olds think about gender, and those tools may enter classrooms without parental input or the option to opt out, it is a direct challenge to parental rights and the protection of childhood. Christians should be informed, engaged, and prayerful about what is happening in schools and publicly funded institutions.

How are you praying for the protection of children and parental rights in public education? Share your prayers and scriptures in the comments below.

(Excerpt from the Daily Caller. Photo Credit: Inti Tupac Liberman/pexels)