Why did Pueblo communities make small kachina figures for children?

In the traditional religions of the Pueblo Indians, which are characterized by animism, kachinas are divine ancestral spirits that act as intermediaries between humans and the gods.12

Pueblo men traditionally carve small, heavily ornamented wooden kachina dolls to serve as educational tools for children. These figures are used to teach children the identities of the various kachinas and the specific symbolism associated with their regalia. While the dolls are beautiful objects, their primary purpose is to help pass on cultural traditions and religious knowledge to the next generation.12

It is important to note that these dolls are typically presented to girls, while boys traditionally receive bows and arrows. The identity of the spirit represented by a doll is conveyed through its mask, which features elaborate ornamentation made from feathers, leather, and fabric, rather than the form of the doll's body itself.1