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

I just turned fourteen and started this hobby when I was twelve. I didn't actually have a doll until I was 13, but I was dedicated from the first moment I saw BJDs. I never knew in the beginning that there would be so many adults interested, and I was surprised at that. I have four dolls and one on the way, and I don't mistreat or pay less attention to my dolls because I am a younger less sagely person. I think that it might be because I am mature for my age. Someone once told me, "you are just like my grandmother... but it's not an insult, I swear. My grandma is cool!"
Also, my sister has a mini and an SD and she is ten! More amazingly, she financed them from money she made (from selling homemade toys and cookies and such). Sadly, my sister is a more financially independent individua than me! XD

 

Resin itself isn't poisonous. The problem comes with resin dust when you sand it- the dust can settle in your lungs and because it never degrades, you have a lungful of resin! And that's not healthy by any means.

Weighing in on the acutal issue, I'm fifteen. I have about eleven assorted American Girl and My Twinn dolls that I've been accumulating since I was four and all of them are in great condition. The worst I've done is brush one's hair a little too much. I think it completely depends on the person as to how young they can appreciate and care for a BJD.

 

I recently recieved a doll with a warning label that it wasn't for anyone under the age of 15

 

I have a 7 year old son. He owns an Orientdoll Cheon and cares for my MNF and his sister's two Orientdolls like they were his own. He doesn't know much about the esthetics yet but I'm teaching him little by little. Again, each child is different. I believe that if they are exposed to this hobby the way my children are, they learn the value of the dolls as well as love them. He had no real interest until my MNF and his sister's Oritntdolls came home. Apparently he likes them small.

 

Wow, now I feel old. XD I turned 20 this year and got my first BJD six months ago. I think the "age-barrier" as t'were is more of a financial barrier.

If you don't have a job, you're less likely to save up pocket money buy something that is $300+, that's just common sense. ^^ I've been mooning over BJDs since I was about 15, but always cast them off out of hand before until I came back to the UK and got the steady permenant job that I'm in now. I saw El and I just thought "You know what. Do it.", and lo, I did, and here I am, 8 months later and they are starting to take over my house, my life and everything. XD Everybody needs a hobby ;D

 

Hmm, I'm 16.. I've been interested in the hobby since I was 14 (almost 15).
But I agree with what's already been said- the costs of things really make it seem more like an adult thing, but I guess it all depends on the individual.

 

I think they're considered "adult" in that they are anatomically correct and not "childsafe" (ie small parts)? Many collectors' items say "For persons over 12" or 14 or whatever. Disclaimers like these are for liability reasons mostly.

And cost is a factor, BJD are still pretty expensive, not many people would get an El and hand it to their 6-year-old no matter how much the child covets one.

But heck! If someone wanted to, had the money, and was reasonably sure the kid wouldn't choke on an s-hook or something... they could do it and nobody could say "boo" (not that they wouldn't you know how people are)!

The younger members of the board that I've seen around here seem to really cherish their dolls and that makes them "adult" collectors as far as anyone's concerned.

I think if someone is surpised to see a 12-year-old on the board, it's because there aren't that many of you.... I don't think anyone thinks you're too young for them "per se". I started collecting antique dolls when I was 12. When I was 18 I sold a few and went to Europe. It's good to start young! ^_^

Raven

 

I have no issue with kids getting into this hobby, I've just got to wonder how on earth you afford it. I mean, I presumed this hobby was purely an adult thing becasue of the sheer expense of it. I couldn't imagine even ASKING my parents for a £300 doll if I was 12. And even if I'd have asked there's be no chance I'd get it...

 

*shrugs* I'm 25.....I've sucked my 15 year old lil sis (13 at the time)
into this hobby.....and I've started on my 8 year old lil sis....I'm getting
her a dollfie for x-mas....and will hopefully be able to get her a real bjd
when she gets older (and can pay for part of it herself).........

So no....I don't find it to be a hobby for just adults...heck....I'm more
used to it being a hobby for children......my dads respons to it; "Will you
never grow up?...do you have to take it with you everywhere? people are
staring..."

 

Hmmm I agree a lot with armeleia (page 5) now that I read every single post lol. this one hits home for me: "Similarly, I'd rather see a "rich kid" with a neglected Christmas doll than a neglected Christmas puppy. "

I'm 25. I've started this august. I already own 4 dolls. (2 no bodies though) and planning another one this month... I was interested in them few years ago. I wish I had gotten into them earlier -.-;;; but I had no money.

I do agree maturity is the issue, not really the age. And the only thing "adult" about it is mostly how pricy the dolls are. It makes me cringe if I see a doll being badly mistreated (badly mistreated does NOT meaning modding them ^^;; usually means flailing them around, dropping them carelessly, and touching them with greesy hands)

Many have said it's alright if the child saves the money themselves. But, what if the money comes from allowence? Sure it's saving, it teaches them patience. But I know I saved every single scrap of my allowence to buy 1 nintendo game when I was a kid. now that i have two jobs to support myself and live alone, totally independent from my parents, i realize, it's very different. the money FEELS very different from saving allowence to money you earn through jobs.

So if a child earned the money THROUGH work, then I would agree, the child has definetly earned the doll. But I don't think a child can legally get much work below the age of 15 except baby sitting or mowing the lawn or circulating newspapers. o.O;;

That being said, I do wish there were BJD when i was 12-13 so I could have collected them, and yet, I'm glad there wasn't coz there's no way I could have bought them, saving my allowence lol. It took me almost two years before I could by myself a Super Nintendo lol.

I also agree that a 12-13 year old should go have fun with their peers and grow some social skills ^^ and sometimes, you definetly need money to hang out with friends.

I'm sure there's many mature 12-13 year olds out there. I knew of a kid who was in 6th grade who knew English, and his parents didn't. That boy did his family's taxes, read all the government papers and translated for his parents. The kid was the most mature and solem, quiet kid i've ever met. But it made me really sad seeing him. He wasn't a kid anymore. He always looked tired and depressed coming home from school and doing his father's estate work at home. It made me feel that kids shouldn't be like that.... o.O;;; kids should go out and laugh and ride bikes and have fun o.O;;;;;

PS - My allowence back when i was 12-13 was $2 per week as well. When I was in high school, age 15-18 or so, it was raised to $5 per week -.-;;; my christmas presents were 2-3 bags of cookies since my parents never bought me sugar related food unless it was christmas lol (probably coz i come from strict asian/Korean family. One reason why i moved out immediately after college to pursue my hobbies without anyone nagging or throwing my stuff out. my mom still throws out my collections, calling them trash, behind my back -.-;; ) and i didn't think i came from abnormal family, since most of my korean friends had similar parents anyway -.-;;;

that being said, i sucked 3 of my friends into collecting dolls, one 25 years old like me, but two others are 19 and 17 lol

 

I'm afraid that I think cost only paritaly the issue. I mean, I couldn't even manage to save enough for an American Girl doll when I was a kid- but I think the real reason that we call BJD an adult hobbyis so the adults who love them candefend the fact they are playingwith dolls.
I hada great time the lastmeet up I was at- a bunch of adults sitting around, eating treats and playing with dolls. Dressing them up, playing with their hair, having conversations between them.
And people look ascance at anyone over the age of say, ten, that wants to play with dolls. (trust me on this) but if we say that it's an adult hobby we're
colectors, which has so much more dignity than playing with dolls, never mind that most people (I think) never have more than say, three, and many people can never afford more than one. (you high maitnence boy, *chu*)

So it has nothign to do with care, or price, and it's all about dignity. Though if you get a bunch of BJD people together, dignity goes outthe window as discussions of shoes (oh so cute!) start.

 

You got me there, but still, unless a very small person consumed quite a lot of their doll, which would be fairly difficult- they'd be alright. Anything, actually, is toxic in the right quantities- even water. And BJDs are by far not the only substance in our daily lives containing polyurethane. Not that you should give a BJD to a child for these reasons, just that the "toxicity" of a BJD shouldn't be the main reason why you don't.

 

I've never really thought about BJDs being an Adult hobby.

But now that someone has brought it up, I think it IS an Adult Hobby.

But RELAX!!! People need to stop being so sensitive about labels like that!!!

It's an adult hobby because of all the things mentioned--that it's expensive (Volks probably doesn't want to sell to very young kids more because they want to make sure parents have given permission for such an expensive purchase... Yeah, it's the kid's money, but most kids are still under the control of parents--like it or not!). And because they're not for rough play or banging about since they can break and be hazardous to health, etc. And because there ARE age-appropriate toys. Developmentally, some kids are just too young for some things. But yeah--they can look at a Porcelain doll or a Resin one and play carefully--but usually it's not as fun for them. Most will have more fun with other toys and dolls.

HOWEVER--this doesn't mean that kids are barred from owning or playing!

I liked reading adult books when I was 13--I LOVED Lord of the Rings. It was classified in the library in the adult section, but so what? Now that I'm an adult, I read the Harry Potter books, technically for kids/Young Adults. So what?

Stuff like "for Adults" or "for Kids" is just a guideline or generality. It's not a RULE or an insult or whatever.

If a young kid wants to pursue an adult hobby (anything not usually classified as specifically for kids--and that's a LOTof different things!) and it's OK with their parents, then why not?

Most older teens aren't really kids, but Young Adults, anyway. They always have a certain amount of freedom and are expected to be interested in adult pursuits (as well as stuff just aimed at teens).

Anyway, that's my take on it, as a definitely older Adult.

There's nothing wrong with being involved in a hobby that's not aimed for kids. And it's not meant to be insulting if people comment on age. As someone said, people can comment on those of us who are older as well as younger... it doesn't bar us older folk from liking anime and games AND dolls... and it doesn't bar really young kids from liking stuff adults also like (with certain exceptions, of course! Internet rules and Mature themes and legal issues and things needing parental approval, etc.).

So be proud that you're mature enough to participate in an Adult hobby!!! There are a TON of young people here... so it's not as if this is a big deal anyway.

 

It depends on what you mean by a 'Kid'
If you're talking about teenagers, I don't really see it as a bad thing as long as their doll fund doesn't come from stealing, bullying...etc
However, if by 'kid' you mean someone under the age of ten I'd definitely say NO.
BJDs are not over-sized barbies and they are breakable objects with parts that can easily be swallowed.
Let's be brutally honest, would anyone hand their 5yr-old baby brother/sister their dolls to play with?
I know I wouldn't
A former friend of mine actually said she wanted to get a Leeke girl for her 2yr old daughter...
I found it absolutely rediculous because firstly, she can't really afford it
Secondly, her daughter had stripped and 'abused' dolls like any toddler with toys.
Most importantly, she doesn't even know what is on a Leeke girl as she asked me after telling me about the intention of buying it for her daughter: Are the wigs and eyes removable?
IMO Giving something like that to a toddler or even young children is asking for trouble and destruction of the doll

 

I have two daughters, (with child no. 3 on the way); the eldest turned 14 in October and the younger will be 12 later this month. I gave her a BJD for Christmas the year she turned 10; however it was not a resin doll but an Obitsu 60cm doll that I customised into an elven vampire for her. She absolutely adores Aunrae, and takes very good care of her. I did the face-up and made her outfit, which brought down the price a little.

Yes, a BJD - even one of the vinyl ones - is an expensive present; but she's a very responsible girl and takes excellent care of her things.

My main concern with children getting into the hobby isn't the amount of cash being spent on these children, but more the effects of what can happen when they start getting involved with the online BJD community. My daughter is too young to be on DoA, and for that I'm actually quite thankful. There are quite a number of children on the board that are very good at giving the impression of being older than they actually are; and that can lead to some very tricky situations.

I am a lot more wary with who I RP with - both via photostory collaborations, and IM chats - after a disturbing encounter with one girl who I hadn't realised was only a school girl. Her doll and one of mine became involved, and she would repeatedly try to steer the RP sessions towards some pretty mature themes. I was horrified when told she was only 13. I RP some pretty racy stuff with other RP partners, including pretty extreme yaoi that has on occasion crossed over into BDSM. Now, what would happen if that happened with someone who was underage? I for one am very uncomfortable with the thought that I could unwittingly end up committing some form of pseudo-cyber-paedophilia. As a result, when somene PMs me now and tries to start up RP between my dolls and theirs, the first thing I do is find out their age. If they're under 18 then sorry - no dice.

I have no problems with children owning BJDs. I am very concerned about what can happen when children below, say, 15 or 16 join in with the online community; because the vast majority of us are older owners, and if someone presents as being reasonably mature then unless age actually comes up in conversation it tends to be assumed one is dealing with another adult. I know that in an ideal world, parents will monitor their children's online sessions; but it's an all too sad fact that there are a lot of very worldly 12-year-olds whose parents don't give a damn about what they do online. I do feel 13 is too young to be interacting with the online BJD community as a whole and personally I would be far happier if the minimum age were, say, 15 - or that perhaps there ought to be a seperate area or forum for the younger members. I certainly won't be allowing any of my children to have DoA accounts until they reach 15.

 

Hah! Me neither! But that was becausee I didn't get allowence, so theres not much e;se an 8 year old can do to get money ^_^;

I was 14 when I first WANTED a BJD. I'm 19 now, so, what, 5 years later? I finally start getting to a point where I can get enough money for one. (I wasn't allowed to work during highschool, and money isn't really something we have of extra in my house). However, I'm not surprised to see younger kids into this. It's really kinda neat, especially the kids that work jobs to get theirs :3 I admire you, I really do. Work is hard

 

If someone had given me a BJD when I was your age I would have loved them, and the doll forever! I still have a doll in my bedroom that I was given when I was three and a bear from not much after.