Is it "wrong" to let younger kids have BJDs?

Eh, it depends. I was taught to be responsible with my belongings when I was younger, but it really irks me when I see children getting expensive items and not taking proper care of them. I see this a lot in my own family. But, if the child really wants one and can prove that they can be responsible enough to handle a BJD and take good care of it, then I don't see a problem with it. I would suggest getting one that may be a better choice for beginners if they're young enough.

 

I think that age isn't really a factor, I believe it depends on the child. If they are really mature and understand that the dolls are expensive and need to be taken well care of... And they actually make sure to take care of it, then they should be able to have it.

If I had a child that was mature enough to have a BJD, my main concern would be his/her friends. I'd probably want to put the doll in a place where only my child could get it, because I would be too worried about their friends messing with the doll or breaking it.

 

My daughter got both of us into BJDs a little over a year ago when she fell in love with one at a doll show. Yes she was pricey, but I know lots of parents who spend way more on battery-powered jeeps, elaborate playscapes, playhouses and pedigreed chihuahuas. My daughter takes great care of her little MSD girl, who has become something of a family mascot. I totally agree that doll ownership depends on the child but I don't believe that letting a child own a BJD is inherently wrong.

 

My son is 13. I bought him a pukipuki Sugar when he was 10.
My son has broken countless ipods, his cell phone has to be replaced every couple of months (he now gets $16 models off ebay, I can't keep up with the cell phone expense, and he's living with a cracked ipod screen)...headphones, ear-buds, backpacks, airsoft guns, everything he wants is broken. Not one thing is safe in his hands.
Except for Sugar. That doll is pristine, completely loved, perfectly cared for. He would be mortified if his friends knew about his little guy, but he adores him and it is the one thing I can count on NOT being broken.
Perhaps it is because my son is surrounded by a bjd loving mom, grandma, aunt and family friends. Perhaps it is because cell phones don't have faces and nice glass eyes. Whatever it is, I am certain that it just depends on the kid, and kids can be unpredictable.
I actually did not expect that this tiny bjd would be the only thing that would be cared for by my "bull in a china shop" son, and quite honestly, was expecting to add the little guy to my personal collection long ago (I did tell my son if the doll was not cared for, it would join my group).
It gives me hope, gets me through the broken cell phones, to know that there's that one thing, that one little tiny faced guy, that's important enough to be cared for.
Now, gotta go, need to snipe another cell phone on ebay...

 

I don't know about "wrong", but I certainly don't think it's a good idea, especially if the child in question just decided one day that they wanted one, simply because you have one. As the child may lose interest just as quickly as they'd gained it, and the doll might end up a yellowed paperweight in the end.
But... More to the point. It does very much depend on the maturity of the child, but I believe it's best to wait a year or two to see if they've still shown avid interest in BJD's before purchasing them one.

 

I don't see anything wrong with it. Actually, my belief is that children and adults are virtually similar. I'm sure there are many adults out there that have purchased a bjd and didn't stay in the hobby because they got bored of it quickly. Same with kids. Its mostly because the money is not theirs that adults are more cautious with children. Give children a chance.

On the bright side since BJD's can be sold secondhand for pretty much the retail price, its not as bad as it could be. Although I can understand the caution, children actually are more tempermental.

 

I was never responsible enough to own something so expensive. I guess it depends on how much they want it. But I do think that they should save up for it themselves. I think they will appreciate it more if they use their own money to buy it though.

 

I, being a young teen myself, believe that as long as a child is mature enough and responsible enough, they should be allowed to have a BJD or other expensive doll. I (according to my parents and past teachers) am responsible and mature for my age. I love my dollies and will always take great care of them I also believe they should buy them with their own money, unless it's like a pullip or something. But that's getting off topic.

 

I used to own - and play with - porcelain dolls before (but more modern ones that didn't look hideous). I heard that porcelain was fragile, but I still wanted to play with it (it was my doll, after all). Nothing bad happened to her - I even bought a 'friend' for her, also made of some kind of fragile material.

I've always liked 'big' dolls. When I was 8, a friend got me a life-size (for my age) doll, that I thought was pretty interesting. When I was a kid, I was more into larger dolls because I guess I was into dolls that were like people. Now, the DM Lusion, while an interesting doll, is way too big for my liking.

 

Well, I have always had dolls' houses, since before I had kids. And I would let my eldest son 'play' with it when he was as young as four, because he knew he had to be careful. He had his own 'bear house' with very delicate furniture that we put together and painted ourselves, and nothing ever broke until his younger brother got a hold of it...

I know some older kids, and even adults, that I wouldn't trust with my BJDs, or my dolls' house dolls.

I think if I wasn't sure a child would be able to take proper care of a BJD, I'd start them off with a not-too-expensive vinyl doll and see how that goes...

 

When I was little, I really wished to have a doll no matter what kinds of it(No BJD at that year I suppose) but my parents didn't allow...(They might think it was 'wrong' to let me have dolls)...That could be one main reason why I cannot control on purchasing dolls after I feed myself. Therefore I think if one day I had child I would let her/him have her/his own BJD after s/he is old enough to really understand what is BJD and what kind of responsibilities s/he should pay on it.

 

Ihave a little neighbor who is now 7 and totally fascinated by my bjds among other things. She is very curious... wants to 'touch' and I know that if I forbid that and step out of the room, there may be some Xmas balls hanging on someone's arm, etc. I'm helping her to develop an interest in dollies to play with, such as AG dolls, and to respect dolls that her adult neighbor collects. Yes, I do allow her to play with a bjd or a cloth doll while I'm close by and I explain to her the difference in AG vs bjd/antique. She is too young to get the total picture but she is here alot, loves dolls and I'm not about to kill that love. She will most likely end up with all of mine if her interest continues..as well as her interest in learning how to respect dolls that are not simply toys.

 

I'll say it depend on child. For me, when I was around 9, I was a bit more mature then the average child due to responsibility of the older sibling. Idk how it is in other people family but in mine, if the younger siblings do something wrong, it's automatically the older one's fault for not watching/guide the younger one. (lol) So, I was pretty much ready to handle a BJD around the age of 10.

Then there's my younger brother. He's 10 right now and I told my mom not to give him an iPod yet after seeing how he treat his DS. He seem like a baby to me and probably can't handle/take care of fragile item yet.

 

I would never do it. There are cheaper alternative to BJDs that are more kid friendly. Honestly if I'd been given a BJD as a child and told I had to be careful with it I would have found it a very boring gift! Kids should be allowed to make a bit of a mess and enjoy themselves, not that I'm saying you have to be destructive to enjoy yourself. But I have some happy memories of building dens in the garden for my dolls and taking them for a swim in our pound. The dolls were very loved and enjoyed and I'm glad I had that as a kid, now I'm an adult I can enjoy things in a different way.

 

I think that if the "kid" knows how to handle BJD then it's quite fine in a way for in a way, you can say that BJD is like a larger scale made of resin Barbie dolls and besides, I think it's a good family relationship bonding when you can share your hobby with them and also building up a hobby for them n___n Beside, age is not much of a matter these days when they can understand things so much faster n___<

 

I think it depends upon the child and what that child values. If at a young age they know how to respect the value of different things, then if they were VERY interested in having one, I would consider it. But with that being said, I think it is a BIG mistake on a adults part to give a child a doll and then punish or blame them if something happened to the doll. A child is a child, and that is to be taken into consideration before freely giving them something they may not be able to justly care for.

 

Well, I don't think it's an age problem, but more of a maturity level-thing. Supposedly, the older you are the more mature you are, LOL. I generally wouldn't recommend BJDs for "younger children", just because they might not have the maturity level to realize how expensive a BJD is, or how to properly take care of the doll.

 

Im 14 but I am extreamly mature for my age. Im not they type of person which throws things about and doesnt care for them. I mean If my phone gets the smallest scratch I willl flip out I want everything clean and nice and to look like new. I collect many things besides BJDs. Since I was about 8, I have collected Designer Vinyl and for 2 years now I have colleted DC Comics (Mainly Harley Quinn) memrobilia. Its all in pristine condition. I have wanted a BJD for as long as I can remember. And now my first one is on its way.

I understand that when many people see a 14 year old they instantly think "She is too young to care for such a pricey doll" or "She doesnt care for that, its just a phase" but not everyone is like that. Respectivley there are some kids who I have seen with a BJD and it looks like they dont care and just chuck it about. But I am not like that. Im going into final year of Secondary School, and I managed to get head girl, that must prove that I dont have the maturity level of a 2 year old. My BJD and the ones I am saving up for will be my own money, I know how expensive they are and I know that I want to be in this hobby for a long long time.

I dont see anything wrong with people under 15 owning a BJD of any size, (My first is an MSD and now I am saving for a SD. Its my own money :L), just because we are young doesnt mean we dont care for things or know how to value things.

 

I suppose it comes down to the funds available (if you can afford to share your hobby with your child/ren) and the mental state/level/development of the child. I don't think it matters how OLD someone is but that they have the mental capacity to understand how valuable their BJD is. Some kids are very good with money and understanding the value of it and how hard parents work for it and some aren't. I can't tell you from personal experience but I imagine I'd be rather protective of my babies (both human and resin) and supervise them. ^_^

 

People buy their children lots of very expensive toys. Sometimes the child takes care of them, sometimes they don't. For myself, if a child would be just as happy with a sturdier, less expensive doll, I'd go with that option. But if my child (hypothetical - my kids are grown and think I'm in my 2nd childhood!) really wanted a BJD, would take care of it, and we could afford to indulge, why not? My 6 year old grandson doesn't handle my dolls, but he really likes the furniture and props and has a great time creating room settings.