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

Im mixed as well, i think people about 15/16 and up should be fine with a bjd, but any younger than that and i get kind of confused. as mentioned before, majority of things at that age are a fad, im even worried that theyd be a fad for me! (and im going on 19!) but im kind of reassured because im working to get these dolls, so knowing that i earned that 400+ day by day of saving wont be wasted so easily. however, most younger kids cant work. i dont think its legal (or at least practical) to get a job before 15, so anyone younger really has to rely on others for this seemingly huge amount of cash. so in my personal opinion, a younger person might not truly appreciate a doll that they bought on a whim or didnt have to work hard for. im growing up in a time when money is scarce (especially with the economy now) so im personally a little taken back when i hear a 12 year old say "yeah i got 500 for christmas so i decided to get this cute doll i saw, my mom said shed pay for the other one" or something because i dont think id even be able to bond with something that was just so easily.. given to me. now if it was say a 13 year old who did chores and penny-pinched for months to earn a doll, i dont think i would mind because they honestly worked for it, so i would dub them as mature enough.
another thing that bothers me, aside from the "anatomically corectness" of a doll (when i was like 10 my sister asked me the difference between a girl and a boy, so i got this smug look on my face and said "of course i do! girls have long hair and boys have short hair!") but id be worried about all the stuff that comes with a doll. sure the sewing shouldnt be a problem, but then theres the toxic chemicals that come with bjds. ive heard that just to remove seam lines you have to wear extensive protection because resin dust will damage the respiratory system, so that combined with the face ups, modding, and anything else that has to do with bjd, i dont think a younger teen would do so well with safety equipment or even some of the sharp tools and chemicals involved.

just a side note, i know that for several forums and chat room settings you have to be at least 14 to participate, does DoA not have this rule?

 

well, BJDs aren't exactly kid-friendly since they're made of harmful substance and very expensive.
I'm currently saving up for a BJD little by little and working at my parents' store.
So I guess if you can afford it and be careful with BJDs, then age doesn't really matter.

 

well personally, I don't consider myself an 'adult' but I guess I am close enough to the age.
Anyway. I don't think that Bjds are just for adults, I think Bjds should be for anyone who has a passion for them and can take care of them, which bring me to the kids part.
I don't think kid should have them. At the price they are and the amount of care that goes into them, 'kids' maybe to young to appreciate them or care for them properly on their own. BJDs are like a puppy, If you get them for a young child, even if it belongs to the child, the adult does most of the work~ now make that puppy made of resin and not have the ability to run when handled wrong. Disaster could be at hand @_@;

personally I believe ages of a mature 14 to 18++ will do fine, under 14 maybe be pushing the bar.

 

I think it really depends on the child. Under a certain age (around 12) I don't think a kid can really appreciate it. Some children are much more mature than others. My best friend was one of those children who could be bought porcelain dolls at age eight and be very careful of them and appreciate them (just an example, she actually didn't like dolls until she started with BJDs). I, on the other hand, was a bit mixed. I was more careful of things than a regular child, and didn't like getting dirty (I still have my teddy bear and he's still in pretty good shape), but if I loved something then I would touch it a lot and it would wear down simply because I loved it so hard. I was also kind of clumsy, so I sometimes dropped them. Now, again, I was more careful than the average child, but I don't think I could have had BJDs until I was a teenager. My best friend, on the other hand, was practically born an adult (in temperment, she can be quite immature sometimes), so she could have handled BJDs at a much younger age than I could have.

On the other hand, I don't know if a really high end BJD would be an appropriate gift for a child. I highly doubt my parents spent more than $100 on me for an entire holiday until I was a teenager, and only since I got into my twenties did they give me "big gifts" (as in more than $200). I'm not saying they didn't spend lots of money on me, because they did. XD But they never bought me a car for a present or anything extravagant like that, and I'm pretty sure they would think twice about anything more than $300, which most dolls are. I think if someone buys their kid a doll over a certain price limit, there's something wrong with that.

 

I don't think BJD's is exactly an adult hobby there is just one big thing that keeps the younger age range from getting them or getting into them.
The price. In the U.s you can't even get a job until you are 16yrs old :O so that's a major drawback for younger folks.
And for people saying that they aren't for younger people, is becasue most younger/kids don't appreciate expensive things and don't know how to treat/take care of them either. But there are people who are younger who are able of doing that. Anyways you seem the type to be able to take care of a bjd. ^^ From how you posted.

 

Well in the US you can get a job, your choices are just limited, they expand at 16 and even moreso at 18. At 18 years old i work for nine dollars an hour start pay, and thats high considering im only a cashier. Its tough for me even with school and gas to save for my dolls it took me nearly 5 months to save up for my Yosd at $450 and another three to save up for my $200 cherish tiny. I only put half at most my paycheck AFTER a $50 life expense (gas food) is taken out and saving is slow. im working on paying off my first SD body so my boy will stop being a floating head. And at any younger than now? i dont think i could have done it before i started working, and finding a job was hard for me. i never got allowance as a kid unless i asked for ways to earn money and even then it was minimal.

On the otherhand my sister (12 years old) has fallen in love with the Puki Pongpong and I sugested to my mother that we work together to get her one for christmas. eventualy i had to pull money out of my savings to pay for/ order it to get it here on time but i think it will be well worth it for my sister to open up her first BJD on Christmas morning

 

I'm not sure I quite grasp the idea that BJDs + children = bad mix due to the fact that male BJDs have penises and the girls have approximations of labia. Tiny Tears male dolls (Timmy?) had penises. They peed out of them if you filled them with water and squeezed them in the stomach hard enough. If a baby doll doesn't have to be censored by avoidance or leaving out the genitals, why should an older male doll...? It doesn't quite make sense to me. I can't see the negative effect of this...?

I don't recall any girls at my school not knowing what a penis was, for instance. And it's not as if boys need shielding from something they already have.

 

I don't think that BJD collecting is just for adults- (Probably because I only just became one myself - 18 this past august ) But I do agree with everyone who said that the price is part of what keeps most younger kids away- My parents helped me get my first doll and I'm still broke so my wonderful daddy is helping me get my second one and I'm 18! >.< It's hard to find all that money before you get a really good grown up job (I don't have one yet as I have just started college and am forbidden to work till further notice ) But otherwise I know that for sure I would have been able to handle the responsibility when I was younger, I've always loved dolls and even though I didn't get into BJD 'til recently, I was already doing stuff like sewing and photography (and occationally make up @.@) when I was 13-17. I think as long as the kid understands that the dolls is to be cared for carefully and treated gently then there's no problem.

 

I don't really think it's an adult hobby, but then again, I'm fifteen. I think seeing younger owners is often rather rare not only because of the price, but the price mixed with their parents' reactions to it. My parents dislike the costs as well as the dolls, so it's easy to see why the hobby is considered more 'adult'.

I'm personally still waiting to get a job, although apparently I have to get my license before then(procrastinating on my permit is such a bad idea). So depending on when I can even get my permit, my parents won't even allow a job until a year or more from now. At this age most things are at their jurisdiction.

 

Well, I wouldn't call it an adult hobby, but rather a grownup hobby. I have no problem with young people collecting dolls and if I had a child I wouldn't mind if they were interested in them. But I wouldn't give an 8-year-old a BJD, since even if they love their toys, there are times when they just throw their things about and they often tend to stuff them down in various places, which would serenely brake the doll. So if they want dolls in that age, I would rather buy them a barbie or something. Not very fun getting them a 500$ BJD and have them break it on the first day..
Personally Im 17 and I think there's quite a lot of teenagers in the BJD business. On a swedish forum where I also hang out, the majority of the members are between 13 and 20, so there's more teenagers than adults.

So make it short. I think it's okay for anyone to like and collect BJD's and others alike, as long as the person understands that the dolls are very fragile and can't be thrown around the room like some plastic barbie.

 

i think this hobby is for everybody!!!
like me im just 13 years old!!!

 

I guess if you are not old enough to get a job and your parents are happy to shell out the cost of these dolls, then anyone can be a part of the hobby. It would have been impossible for me to join at 13 because even though I had a part time job (under-age working laws are different in the UK) I wasn't earning enough to save anything (£20 a week was enough for 2 CDs and the bus fare back then) and my parents would never buy me a doll that cost $300, not now and certainly not then.

If your parents are kind enough to do this and you appreciate that not many parents will buy a ridiculously expensive doll for their child, you should be appreciative enough to treat your doll like gold dust...and some under-13's just aren't mature enough to do that. I think there is a great misconception that all 13 year olds in this hobby must be mature enough to deal with it, I think the truth is slightly different. Peer pressure affects people in different ways and some 13 year olds let it roll off them and others succumb. When I was 13 I collected Star Trek action figures and I never let it bother me that people thought I was 'childish' for playing with dolls. I imagine having a two-foot doll would elicit a similar response from school bullies and some 13 year olds would be very upset by this and consign their doll to the wardrobe, which is a waste of $300 in anyone's book.

 

I think it really depends on person. Someone could be reliable and adult at age of 13, someone could act like an irresponsible child at age of 30.
But such hobby requires too many things children usually lack - money, certain skills, experience (not only with dolls, just simly life experience), dedication, patience. Even if parents buy those dolls for them, and money problem solved, still there are lost of things on the list.
Obviously, there are exeptions, but its tiiiiny persentage, and it cant actually affect the whole picture.
Surely, I do not want to offend those young people who were posting here, claiming they are adult enough and in this hobby. Exeptions, as I said.
But it is definitely not suitable for all children.

 

I agree, it really depends on the person.
I very recently turned 15, so I'm only a freshman. And everyone knows we freshman's reputation.
But I think I can be very mature when I want to be, and apparently so do others. I've gotten comments from people who thought I was at least a junior. I suppose that's a good thing? I know when to goof off and stuff, but I also know when to be serious.
I think, right now, I could handle a BJD. I'm careful with my possessions, mostly...some of my books aren't in great condition, but that's because I've read them too many times. And some of them are a few years old.

But then, I know people older than me who I would not trust with a BJD unless they were being watched like a hawk. Sitting down. On a bed, with pillows on the floor.

On kids with BJDs, I think that if a kid is interested, keep them interested. That's how my parents taught me to be responsible. They bought me a $300 MyTwinn doll in 4th grade, which I still have. She's perfectly fine, other than needing a new wig. (Those dolls have wigs that tangle uncontrollably. I'm trying to de-tangle it myself, but so far nothing has worked. I can't use human conditioner or de-tangler, since that's bad for her hair. I'm going to just spend a few hours wetting her hair, then gently brushing it, then repeating soon. If that doesn't work, I'll send her off for a new one.)
I agree that buying a kid a super-expensive BJD is just asking for trouble. But a less expensive one? BBBs aren't super expensive compared to others and, from what I've heard, they're durable. In my opinion, they have some lovely sculpts, too. I've also heard people say that they're rather floppy, but re-stringing would fix that.

If a kid can prove they can take care of a BJD, then I'd say bring 'em on into the hobby. I'm not thinking at age 4 or anything, but 11 or 12? I know some very mature 11 year olds who could handle these dolls pretty easily. I even have these two neighbors, who're just the sweetest girls, and I won't have any problem with them holding my girl when she comes. It just comes down to how mature and responsible a person can be.

 

I have to disagree that it is an adult only hobby.
If a parent wants to buy a doll for their child or the child is old enough to buy the doll after saving money to do so then it's their call.
I know a LOT of younger children who are more adult in taking care of their dolls than a few of the adults I know lol.
Attending conventions as a dealer we see a LOT of younger kids and such who love the bjd's and want to get into the hobby, a lot of parents often think the dolls are too expensive or don't want to get something off the net either. With carrying the dolls in the booth, we have AoD, the kids/parents can handle them and see what it is they are purchasing.
It's def not something to get a child who is destructive of their toys/things but for one who is not then I don't find it wrong ya know?

 

As long as u can take care of your doll then it dosen't matter how old you are.
But like some of u guys said, its not a doll you buy for your 12 old kid instead of a barbie doll.

 

I think that if your interested in them Then right on! Its soooo great to see the younger crowd take pride and be interested id something that at times can be complicated. lolAnd if you can sew, create face ups and everything else involved with bjd's then you Rock!

 

Im 13 lol,,,, i here ya, but everyone here is really nic so i dont mind ^^

 

I don't think there's any harm in younger people being interested in BJDs, as long as they're not going to rely entirely on their parents to pay for the doll, that's not a fair burden to the parents. If younger people are prepared to take the hobby seriously and not see it just as something to buy and then throw into a closet, then I can't see why they shouldn't join the hobby.
Money is obviously an issue...so perhaps some younger users (maybe not on this site but perhaps some others) would be stigmatised for settling for 'cheaper' dolls....if you like a sculpt, cost doesn't matter but some people do seem to just want to get a doll quickly and 'cheaply'.....(and I don't think that's just younger people either)
I think older people sometimes look down on younger people as not being serious about this hobby...I'm nearly 18 now, having got my first doll when I was 17 (shortly after my birthday)...I think people of any age can be serious about this hobby, and also people of any age can also not be serious...there's just too much stereotyping tied to age......

Sorry I just started rambling...again....I hope something coherent can be pulled from this....

Sarah.

 

I honestly think it depends on maturity, and then there's the whole matter of actually knowing the hobby. BJDs are fairly unknown, so I suppose one would have to be exposed to it and know about it enough to want one? They're expensive as well, so I suppose one would have to be dedicated enough to get money for one as well.

I'm turning fourteen in a few days, and was introduced to a fellow peer, so I don't think they're necessarily for adults, but rather an older/mature crowd?