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

Ultimately, I do view the dolls as toys, special and expensive toys but still meant for enjoyment. Children have always owned dolls and I don't think BJDs should really be any different. If you can afford to purchase your child a BJD and they really want one, there's no harm in it. Even if a doll becomes broken, that can serve as a profound and fundamental lesson in responsibility just like if something else in your house that meant a lot to the child became damaged. There are a lot of breaks on a doll that can be repaired easily or with a little work.

 

I would be rather reluctant to give a child a BJD as they are very special and let's be honest, expensive... However, the boyfriend and I collect them, so our future children are bound to be around them and perhaps have interest in them - so if they are taught that they are special and delicate and "coveted," basically taught to respect them for what they are (and they are toys, but to me they are moreso "big kids" toys than say your average barbie) I would see no problem with my child having or playing with one. I mean, I always had porcelain dolls as a child but I also realized they were different than my barbies or cabbage patch dolls or what have you. I knew they were more delicate and while I could "play" with them (dress and position them etc) they weren't the kind of doll you took in the swimming pool or tub or what not.

 

It just depends on the child. I was a rough-and-tumble mud-loving kid with a rambunctious puppy as my playmate, and I also loved my dolls. There were certain toys I took better care of- like two certain barbies of mine that I still have today. My parents taught me to be careful and respect my toys, but also enjoy them and just have fun.
My friends used to go through toys like candy

Although I wouldn't feel comfortable with giving a $400+ doll to a child as their first one, if they'll take care of it, then let them have at least a lesser expensive one. I always wanted one of those american girl dolls, and with the clothes and accessories for them, they could add up to a pretty hefty price. My three cousins each got one for Christmas, and I can tell you they were not taken care of. I never received one myself, but I did get SD/MSD-sized porcelain dolls from the dollar store when I was younger.. and I still have them up in my closet, in great and loved condition.

 

I would make them pay for part of the doll. Most kids value things more when they have to pay for them.

 

I'm 15 so I fall in this 'child' category. Yes, it does say in Luts instuction booklet that they recommed only persons over 16 years to use their products. But I honestly don't think I'm that type of a child you talk about.
Since my precious girl came, I've done everything for her myself. Faceup, body blush, sueding, clothes, everything. So I think I'm old enough to take care of my doll.
It depends so much on the child in my opinion - some are mature enough and some are not.

 

If I hadn't been told that I was "too old" for dolls, I'd have never stopped playing with them. I had (still have somewhere) a huge Barbie collection, and was really put out when my parents put them all away when I turned 14. All I used to do with the Barbie dolls was set them up, take pictures of them and kinda make up a dialogue for them while changing their clothing or adjusting their hair. If I'd known about BJD's then, I so would have wanted one because they are so much more ideal for that than Barbie dolls are.

However I had friends who tossed their dolls in the air, gave them "makeovers" that included permanent markers and routinely killed the characters of the stories we played. And I mean real killing, with tossing them in the pond to drown them and then painting the doll blue to show she had "suffocated" or decapitation by actually pulling off the head. And then hanging the heads by the hair from a tree. Not ideal BJD activities.

So I guess it depends on the child's personality and tastes, as well as their mental maturity. I suppose in a household that already has BJD's it's "easier" to get a child or teen a doll because they will know that its not just a toy but something to cherish. I guess.

I suppose it's no different from getting custom made porcelain dolls as I know some of my friends did from godparents and relatives. And those were friends who did not really like dolls.

 

I am almost 14 years old, and have had my bjd for almost a year now. I've been saving up for her the whole year but I'm so happy that I have her. She became a part of me. I almost do everything with her, I take her to friends and everything, I make her clothes, I play with her, I take pictures of her... I have to say that my parents sometimes thought that I wouldn't be responsible enough for it, but I promised them I would be. I grew up around people a few years older, so it's naturally that I act like them. (And it is a great way to show my parents that I ám responsible. I can't say that I didn't got a lot more careful with things since I have her). I'm so happy with her, she really made my life better. And I draw too, have OC's and stuff, yet still, a bjd is different. I'm so glad I decided to order one. I'm ordering my second one in a few days. I think I will never regret buying them, although I'm kinda... young.

 

I know it's probably not the greateset comparisson but it's like kids and animals/pets... some children understand it's something that needs to be cared and treated with respect for (like my former self and my lizard) but some children will neglect and even un-knowingly cause harm to animal. I think it depends on individual kids, as long as they're given the discussions, "it's not a toy, it's very fragile and I payed out of my nose for this". Heck, I'm sure some kids would benefit from a bjd, it could teach them responsibility and help as a creative outlet.

 

My niece and nephew are both 10 and come over pretty often and will usually ask to take pictures of my dolls and sew for them and I tell them sure just wash you're hands and be very careful, I think i've only ever once had to explain to them how to handle my dolls they know i care about my dolls alot. My nephew has asked for one once or twice, and i think if i ever have extra money around his birthday i'd trust him with one of his own, so it mostly depends on the kid and how much they care around something.

 

I got my first doll at age 12 and took care of them perfectly. If a child is mature enough to own one and take care of it, why can't she or he have the doll? I know they're very expensive, but if the child will take care of it and love it... I don't see anything wrong with it.

 

I am still a teen and I am already bribed by my mom using a BJD (or two actually, depending on what I want to buy for her/them. The budget is $1200) to study hard. I really hate studing and exams are all touch-and-go things for me. But I had been carefully considering if I want a BJD since July last year (during the prelim exams haha) before I decided if I want to pursue this hobby. So I think it is okay for teens to collect them if they are serious but again some kids just drop them as they can't understand the true value of BJDs. So give BJDs to them at your own risk.

 

my little cousin (14 years old) owns a puki now and she really is taking good care of it.
one time it fell and she came crying to me, while there was nothing wrong with it
she also calls it her baby :P

 

My little sister owns a Hujoo so far, and she has always been very mature and careful with my dolls. I say it depends on the child's individual maturity level.

 

In my humble opinion, I feel children of the same age vary dramatically in their maturity or just character...I've got 4 children and I've allowed them from a very young age to own & handle delicate dolls (and other things such as ornaments etc) under supervision...I think it's a good way to help them learn to value fragile things and respect them. It's well known in certain tactile-related teaching (such as Montessori) of very young children that providing them with access to lots of materials to handle such as wood, metal, glass and in this case resin will help them understand how to treat different objects (and this includes fragile BJDs).. ;-)....Then to counter that argument....you get the 'knucklehead' type child who is like a bulldozer and would plough through things and never have a clue how to treat a valuable doll...! (I'm lucky enough not to have a child like this, but I'm sure we all know a few)...!? ;-)
Basically, I think that the more a child is included, involved and trusted,(with supervision when very young) the more likely they are to understand how BJDs need to be treated & handled.....(except for the 'bull in a china shop' kids)...!
Yes, I think children with an interest & respect for BJDs should be allowed them and it's down to the discretion of the adult to determine whether the child concerned is responsible and mature enough. ;-)

 

Personally, as many others have said, I think it depends on the child. Myself as a child, I had porcelain dolls that I used to have tea parties with, and when I was done with them, I would give them to my mom, to put back on their stands. They were really expensive dolls, and my mom told me that If I really loved them, I would take care of them.

I used to babysit my cousins all the time before I moved out of my hometown, and I would never buy them a BJD, because they're very careless about their toys.

I think the best thing to do would be if you were interested about getting a BJD for your child, but you're not sure how they would be with it, Get them a cheap doll, like a barbie or something, and see how they treat that. If they can't take care of a barbie, then they definitely can't take care of a BJD.

 

my 6 yr old has made off with my yo-sd SEVERAL times and he knows to be very careful with him. mikey is still in one piece so i'm not to bothered by it. :P but it depends on the child. i would NEVER buy my son his own doll at this age though... i know what he does with his other toys. xD

 

I think it totally depends on the child. I'm sure many would take excellent care of a BJD and would be responsible owners, even at young ages. As a kid I kept all my dolls in immaculate condition, but my daughter, who is 17 now, was really hard on her stuffed toys and routinely did surgeries and makeovers on them...today they look like Victor Frankenstein's rejects, with lipstick stains, mismatched eyes and sewn up scars. So, nope, I wouldn't have gotten her a BJD, but I think other kids who are really careful with their toys would be fine with them..

 

I agree that it depends on the child. Everyone has different personalities and the 8 year old down the street might be the worst candidate for a doll, while the 8 year old next door might be the best. I've recently decided to get my two kids (10 and 6) each their own doll. They will be shown how to handle them and how to care for them and I'm confident I won't have to worry about either of them treating them badly.

 

well.... personnaly I wouldn't get like a Soom MD or something in that price range to a 10 year old. there is a chance he/she will damage it or lost interest in it when he/she gets older but a slightly cheaper doll would be OK in my opinion of course, it depends if you trust the child!

 

It would depend on how mature said child (or children) are I'd think. Personally I know there are children who are more educated about the hobby than their parents or other adult's who just think of BJD as a child's toy.