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

Well it really depends if you see a BJD as a toy or a work of art or a collectable.
I just majorly think BJD are supposed to be owned by people who can deal with them - kids or adults - take care, appreciate them for what they are, and get the best out of them.
Kids generally will be better off with just a new fashionnable toy then a BJD, as plain as it sounds, it pretty much works. I suppose many of little girls would find their barbies just as pretty as some 600$ resin awesomeness. But now BJD is a sort of a trends, some kids and teen-agers might want them just because of it?

 

I think it's great that you have such an interesting hobby at age 13!

I started doll collecting when I was about your age, and started out with other types of dolls, but many of them were just as fragile and expensive as BJDs can be.
I have bought myself 3 BJDs so far. I'm 17 now, so I guess strictly speaking I'm still not an adult. However, I manage all my own finances, run two of my own businesses
and go to college. I think I am as responsible as some adults! I think BJDs can be for anyone that's responsible and treats them with the care that an amazing piece of art like these dolls deserve.

 

the doll is very expensive and as i can see...it's more a collection than a toy...it's not a "child" "toy" in terms of responsibility...well, not all kids are able to be responsible for the expensive dolls...
they play it, put it somewhere, untaken-care-of...
some kids purchase them because they "want" it in prestigious meaning...not want because they have "passion" with the doll...you know, it's like "today i want it, tomorrow, let's see..."...in my time, barbie is one of most wanting dolls...but most kids play them...i mean literally play them, so, after sometimes, it becomes ugly, dirty, and left...and barbie, although not as expensive as bjd, but in my country with our currency this doll is quite expensive...
but! i believe there were some "kids" at that time that really-really take care of their dolls until now...

 

I'm fifteen and I've been eyeing this hobby since I was 12! I was afraid that I would be considered "Too Young" to collect them, so I told myself I'd wait until I was atleast 17, well.....I broke my promise. I've seen younger people collect these and I knew that I can take great care of them just like an adult can. Its not only the maturity level of the person, its also how they handle things because my mom's in her 40's, and you can tell her the doll's made out of silver and gold, and she'd still treat it like a barbie doll.

 

My 7-year-old daughter recently bought her first BJD. (A Brownie thanks to the sale!) She's admired my dolls for awhile and we've gone over how to handle it. So this is something we can kinda do together. ^_^

 

i was a child when i like dolls...it represent life and allow me to roleplay and customise them.... now im an adult...am i different?we are all a child at heart once....how i wish i was a child again...all innocent and happyness...forget wisdom and knowledge...thats the price we paid for it.

 

While i do think there are several things that should have a age limit on them, BJD is not one of them. I think it might be harder for someone younger who doesnt have parents who collect, but if you want a doll, and understand its alot of money and breakable, then why not? If anything i can see BJD as a way to teach the value of money to a kid. XD If i ever have kids, i'd definatly get them one if they wanted.

 

i don't have a problem with young collectors. if anything, it's cute to see younger collectors with their dolls, and also how the dolls will change with them as they grow older and their own personal tastes change.

my only concern is the money side of things, children handling transactions worth a heck of a lot of money and other stuff like that...you wouldn't let your 12 year old kid go out and spend a grand on a car, but it seems okay to do it in this hobby. correct me if i'm wrong, but i don't think little ones should be granted power over such a large amount of cash

also, i'm sorry if this has been mentioned before. i'm too tired to read through 30 pages of comments to find out

 

I first learned of bjds when I was like 12. I definately would've like to have had one at that age! I think they mold that really blew me away was the delf lishe and el. So to like fulfill my childhood wishes, I've bought a minifee lishe, and will eventually buy an el as well.

But for like little kids.....I really think they shouldn't be near them. I can imagine someone pull of a wig and messing it up, finger broken off etc...

 

I am not an adult in the literal sense of term (16 here, way too young... )
I think that most of the times, it is not age that matters, but rather things like, being sure of what you want, knowing how to take care of it. Better if you save for it, instead of just begging your parents... (It's a figurative "you", not talking to anyone in particular)
it's kind of having a pet, i think. Some kids just ask for a pet and then ignore it and eventually leave it, while others ask for a pet and then take care of it as it deserves...
It's all a matter of mental maturity, not age, IMO
in my case, having a doll (i brought my first one when i was 15, one year ago)
teached me the value of some things, and how to save for money instead of impulsive buying

 

I would enjoy bjds at the same level if I was 13. But at this age I wouldn't have any money for this.
And modelling/sewing and other little things that I do for my dolls - all of them I've been doing since I was very little, much younger than 13

 

I don't think that BJD's are necessarily just for adults. It's just more accessible due to how expensive this hobby is, and that's more difficult for the younger crowd. I'm only 20, though. XD I would not have taken care of one if I was given one at the Barbie age around 8 years old. Their hair was always messed up and I didn't take care of them. My brothers popped the heads off and everything. There's no way I'd let that happen to a BJD of mine.

So I think it's the price range, and how anatomically correct and detailed some of the dolls are nowadays that makes it more adult-oriented than the younger crowd. I believe it's perfectly fine for a 13 year old or whatever to own then, as long as they take care of them the way something this expensive should be treated.

 

People of all ages can be into BJD's, that's one of the great things about the hobby. But generally, adults are more common in the hobby because they are able to provide for it, having an income, as where most children rely on adults to supplement money for dolls. I think the only drawback to kids owning dolls is the lack of commitment to the hobby. Children tend to flutter from one thing to another in pursuit of passions, and the passions tend to wane quickly. It would be unfortunate for unwanted dolls to go to waste or not receive good care due to disinterest.

 

I'm 13, and first came across BJDs when I was 12. I agree that kids and adults can both enjoy the hobby. I babysit/mothers help regularly, and save up my earnings from that. I've also been collecting less expensive dolls for a few years now. I think it depends on the child's level of responsability.

 

The term "adult" is rather relative. Some adults are immature while some children are mature; I think it all depends upon the person. Money does come into the picture as well and that could be why older people have them versus a much younger crowd.

 

I don't think it's really stereotypically an adult hobby... I think it can really be enjoyed at any age. But I DO think that you start to see it starting more in the higher teen years. Being 14, I know that I'm on the young end with you.

 

Any age, well 3 and up should be okay. It all comes down to how the parents teach them to respect items. I mean, I have toys from my childhood that are in great condition. In fact one the things I love was paper doll type stuff. All were kept in perfect shape. If you teach someone how to care for something, once they learn it, it's there. I have my mom's doll furniture that was given to her as a little girl, still in wonderful condition. I have a teacup from my grandmother from the 1930's that she had as a little girl. (It's glass.) Kids will have accidents and most likely drop the doll at one point in time, but then, so do adults. Go for kids being responsible for things they want and like/love!

 

I'm in love with BJDs and I'm 15. I think it is more about maturity with "kids".....I know plenty of younger kids who would be careful with such fragile dolls, but I also know plenty who would lose interest as soon as the doll arrives. I think its mostly adults interesting in this hobby because of the price factor-most teenagers can't get a job (especially because so many places aren't hiring now).

 

I think it's funny that the topic is being too young. When I started getting into it, I felt too old. (I'm 29 now) Everyone I saw that had one or more was barely 20 or younger.

 

When I went to the Meetup at Anime Weekend Atlanta, there was a mother and daughter there, the girl couldn't have been more than 12, and her mother spoke of how it was a good way to learn responsibility and caring for something. And it is, just like a pet, BJDs need care and love.