Is BJD really just for adults? And adults, what do you think of kids who like them?

wow maybe this should be moved to the debate forum LOL. since when have bjds been an ADULT hobby and meets been "adults only"? yes the price is probably out of reach for most kids but really - if someone regardless of age WANTS to buy one why shouldn't they?

on the other hand i'm really confused, susan are you talking about kids in general, kids who are interested in dolls, or kids who are being at doll meets with their parents/older siblings when you say kids?

i dont want to come across as insulting anyone - i honestly want to know what you think

 

My point exactly!

I am VERY happy to agree to disagree - in fact - I enjoy a difference of opinion. But I did feel that few of the last statements threw doubt over my judgment as a parent and there was even a hint of a threat regarding the law and my time with my children...

I may be reading too much into this - after all - I can't see facial expression over the internet and may be over interpreting.

If so - I humbly appologize

 

I agree that we each have a different and separate opinion on this subject.
What is good for one is not necessarily good for the other.
And when in Rome do as the Romans do. So where the culture permits then so be it but respect the right of non participation.

Should the time arise that I have grandchildren I will do what I must do and do my best to use good judgement and keep the grandchildren from both mental or physical abuse whatever that may be, like schedule my dolly friends to come over on a different day from the grandchildren.

You do what is best for you and your children. And that is none of my concern.

I just think it is an adult hobby and when I want to be with adults I do not want to include children. Like I said. I raised my kids , I paid my dues, I listened to whinning, screaming,crying, manipulative kids at home and in groups and I do not want to hear them when I am with adults(some adults are the same wayLOL) nor do I want kids to handle expensive dolls. Plain and simple. It has nothing to do with anyone.


That was supposed to be Mutually!!!!

 

It's cool to see people a couple of years younger than me with dolls. =D I think it's better to have dolls grow onto you when you're at that age, since it'll turn you into a doll-respecting person as you grow up (?).

Over here in Singapore, I know quite a couple of doll collectors who are in their teens, with the majority being in their 20s/30s, working adults. As someone has pointed out, not many kids are able to afford such an expensive hobby, and often, it's also a matter of convincing your folks into letting you have your dolls.

As for the other stuff you take on together with your hobby, well, I've been crocheting since I was 9, and people either comment on my patience, or the strangeness of seeing me doing so. -_- Same goes for my relatives hearing that I'm hanging out with the older doll collectors. You really are fine talking to these strangers? How old are they again? Argh.

Lol. I checked the starting year of this thread: 2006. You're my age by now, aren't you?

 

I want to get my 3 year old a bjd.
She can tell the difference between them and barbies, and always wants me to bring out my dolls so we can play with them..
What is the most durable msd abjd in your opinion?
Out of my dolls my mnf shiwoo seems to be the most sturdy..

 

I don't know if they still make them the same, but my MSD Luts feels incredibly sturdy, his resin is super smoothe and feels quite thick and heavy for his size.

 

well I am 64 and have my first BJD I was brought into them by my daughter who has 9 of them - I go to meets with her and have met lovely people of all ages and both sexs. I think its a wonderful hobby and age does not come into it. I would not though allow my tiny grandson to play with my BJD but its a matter of choice for everyone

 

im 16 right now and i started liking BJD's at 14

 

is yours a kid delf? or mnf?

 

Eh. I'm 15 too and and I already have two, my third on the way as we speak. Started the hobby when I was 13 or 14. Now, it does seem to be a hobby for 'older' people, because of the money and such, but if someone is really willing to save, and if they love the dolls enough, then I think anyone could, and should be a part of the hobby. Hobbies aren't meant for a certain age.... People should be into whatever they want. There aren't any rules against collecting dolls, or anything, no metter how young you are. :3

And about the age things on forums, people say I sound and act older than I am. They usually think I'm two, three, or even four years older than I really am. xD I guess that ties in to how mature you are as well. Dolls are, as one could call it, a bit 'high mantinence'. So it really does depend on the person, not the age.

[[Wooo, that was way longer than need be~ xD]]

 

It's really not too odd for younger people to be interested in BJDs.

If a child asked for a lovely porcelain and more traditional doll (some of which also can be very expensive), I don't think too many parents would bat an eyelash at the request if their child was responsible. The same goes for ball-jointed dolls I suppose.

I think the main reason why there are more older people who have ball jointed dolls is for the same reason why most doll collectors are adults: money.

 

You know, I never thought of it like that. I've had porcelain dolls since I was little. I didn't get to play with them, but they were always nice to look at and I understood that and not once did it irritate me that that doll had to stay on the shelf.

 

I am almost 45 and my daughter is 8. She currently has 2 BJDs and will be receiving another for Christmas. BJDs are for everyone. My daughter has learn responsibility and respect thru BJDs. She washes her hands peior to handling any of the dolls. AnnMarie

 

I think playing with BJD's can be for any age but it depends on the individual. My daughter is now twelve years old and sometimes plays with my dolls. I've had BJD's for several years now so when I first started, she was around nine or so and I completely trust her with them as she's far more careful around them than some adults I know! Also, whenever her friends come over to the house, she's actually the one who tells them that the dolls are "off limits" unless I give permission. Usually, no one but my daughter is allowed to touch them though and that's pretty much a known rule in our home. I love that she's so respectul of my hobby. Though she's more into video games (she has no interest in doll forums as she's not as hugely into dolls like I am in general) and stuffed animals, she does appreciate my dolls and has pretty much adopted one of them (Hina Ichigo) as her own which is fine by me. She knows how much I've paid for a few of them and understands their worth and how much they mean to me. Since she's had porcelain dolls from a young age, she's learned to treat them gently just as I did when I was very little. There are dolls that you can play with however you want (plastic) and dolls that you can play with but with gentle care (porcelains and BJD's). Though it's so nice to be able to change BJDs' clothes, hair, eyes and move their joints in many positions, she knows to watch that they don't get scratched or dropped. She even watches me so that my dolls don't fall whenever we take pictures...she's like my helpful little assistant

 

I think it's that most kids (12 and younger) only want the latest thing on tv, and advertised to infinitum. I only just found out about these type of dolls a month ago, and I'm 45! I just happened to see one "modelling" some clothes on Etsy, and inquired about it to the "owner" of that doll. If I'd seen them at 13, I'd have been calling Daddy!

 

I love this question. About 3 months ago I was asking myself if it was o.k. for an adult to be into dolls. After finding numerous sites, including this one, I feel much more "normal".
When I was 12, I got my first "BJD" - nothing like today's, but the legs head and arms on my Sasha were very poseable. Still, it wasn't enough articulation to keep me interested for very long. If I had had available to me then what is today, it would have been totally different, I'm sure. I would have learned to become industrious, figuring out what it took to save the necessary $$$. So for that, I think it's a great thing for young people to be interested in. It sparks the imagination and generates ingenuity as far as making money goes.
Now, I just have to get over feeling embarrassed about being 39 and back into dolls!!

 

They are "dolls" at the end of the day, thats it just, expensive dolls, theyre for who ever wants them end of!

 

I was all for younger people having bjd's until today. Yesterday I went to a meet and I bought along my Volks Elena. She ended up costing me around £500 to get her and she's my favourite doll (and everyone who meets in our little group knows this).
I let one of the 13 year olds (who isn't on DoA) play with her and when I got her back she was covered in dirt and black scratches and her Volks faceup (which is now discontinued) was chipped badly
She goes to a lot of meets and has never been so badly mistreated before. I'm really hoping this was an isolated experience but I will think twice before I let a kid touch my dolls.

 

My little sister (she's 9) is interested in saving up for a BJD. So, I don't really have a problem with young'uns collecting them as well. I think it's nice we have a different collection of people collecting dolls.

 

I guess that one would have to ask what part of this hobby are you talking about. (Refering to the title question)
Dolls or any hobby can be for someone at any age as long as they are taught how to behave. I had actions figures, Star Wars, when I was young and played rough and tumble with them. I also had the 16inch "doll" versions as well. I learned that I could play with them, but in a different way. More like what we call photostories or maybe how some gals play with Barbies, gentle like.
Personally I wouldn't give a young child an expensive doll to play with.
Now I wouldn't let any youngster get involved with any forum until they were in high school (senior most likely). There are way too many "adult" themes that happen here and on other forums. Once they are older teens, I'd allow them to go to meet-ups (I'd go as well). And I'd allow them to take photographs, probably creating a livejournal account for them. They could learn about a great many things that way. I'd keep an eye out, as their parent.
Of course I have no kids, so my opinion is not based on any real first hand experience.