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

On behalf of children :P
I think it's fine for children to have BJDs, as long as they treat them with love and care, and that they don't get the doll because it's the 'it' doll but they actually plan to invest in them when they are older etc.
I think sometimes people need to flip the table and ask themselves whether adults should have dolls, this may seem like a very silly question but not all adults treat their dolls well.

 

I posted here a long time ago, but I think maybe I should elaborate a little more on what I said.

I got Khyler, a pukifee Zoe, when I was 11. Yes, I know, SUPER young. I got my second doll (who I'm currently selling) when I was 12. I'm now saving up for my third doll, a reshell of my second. I have bought all of them except Khyler with my own money, as she was a gift for my birthday from my parents.

I think a child of any age should be "allowed" to have a BJD, as long as they are responsible and they realize the value and fragility of the doll in their hands. It really makes me cringe when even adults fling them around like barbies. I also think they should buy it themselves, as it will help them realize how expensive they really are

 

Depends on the kid, really.

 

My daughters are 11 & 12 and they both have some small BJDs as well as some larger nicer ones on order. They both have contributed to the purchase of the dolls and I think this goes a long way to helping them realize how expensive they are as well as the need to take good care of them.

They have also been taught how to take care of all their things so I have no worries that the dolls will be in good hands!

 

I think that these dolls aren't something to kids to play with.
For my opinion it's good to be at least 13 before you buy your first one.
And it's good to earn the money by your own, not just hug your rich daddy and ask for a new one. When that happens, the doll loses it's value, and becomes just a toy along the others.
Of course this depends on the kid.

 

i don't think it is a matter of right or wrong but a matter of finance. if one can afford it then power to them. also anatomically correct dolls were out years ago even in daycare and schools.unless the penis is erect, i don't see this as a problem. it is all about presenting it in a natural way.

 

I don't think it is wrong in any means. I think parents understand their kids well enough to know if they understand and is ready to handle a BJD and are willing to take good care of. There are so many things you can also get for kids like many of the members said like a gaming system, an iphone etc. I think playing with dolls is a good hobby as kids don't always need to spend time playing too much video game or always ended up on the internet.

For us doll lovers, it is also a very good way to bond with your children by sharing the same passion. Just like if some people love to cook, and their kids can learn to help out step by step in the kitchen. They can learn a whole lot of the Do's and Dont's in the Kitchen. As a child, you will be interested at what your parents are doing that seems so much fun and that they are enjoy doing.

It is even a good idea to bring your dolls to a picnic on weekends and take photos of your dolls together. By just imagining it is such a pleasure. There might be parents who want their kids to be interested in their hobbies also so they can share and play together, but they simply are not "dolly persons" in any respect.

I don't see why it is wrong by any means if the kid can stand the test of them, as well as willing to save up part for it over a period of time, and after careful consideration, even gave up other things they wanted. For kids it does take a whole lot of determination to get what they really want- a BJD.

We adults can actually get what we want easily because of the money we earned, we might have ordered an expensive limited BJD which later on turning out to be a bad decision and love fades out quickly. There are people out there who are adults and fling into the hobby because of a sudden crush, but then the heat has cooled down as fast as it came. For me, it is about the personality of the person themselves, and age should never be the only determinant.

It may be argued that boys are better in science subjects and girls are better in arts subjects, but there are always boys who are better in arts subjects and girls are better in science subjects. There are always young kids that can take a great care of them, and their rights of enjoy owning and caring for a BJD like we do should never be taken away just simply only because of their age. Parents are the one who can guide them and teach them what to do. I would never judge a book by its cover. I think I would buy one for my child a BJD given I know they can, understand how and are willing to take care of such an expensive doll.
Way you go, Kids!!~

 

I don't think it's wrong, but I hope they understand the cost of one and why it is imporant to take well care of it. I hae two younger sisters that own American Girl dolls. They don't play with them and they don't do much with them. They just like them for display. I would mind if they decide to own a BJD at a younger age because as all of us know, after getting one they also "need" clothes and other items.

I prefer they use the money for college than for dolls. But if feel they must have one, then they should earn it. It's not wrong, but they should use their money for college, and then get one while they're in college or out. I know, I'm pretty conservative when it comes to money.

 

Just added a few details after reading more posts in this topic... I have to admit that I might be an adults, but am still studying and eager to go to work and finally repaid my parents and may have use some money I earn for dolls. My parents are very open towards my dolly hobbies. And quite a no. of BJDs I got are paid by them...Although I really really want my dolls, and I know they are very expensive, I do sometimes feel guilty of getting them because I know I do not earn the money for them...

Actually for myself I am willing to get anything for my children if they want it, cause I will think I am too selfish for keeping all the nice BJDs to myself, because I earned them doesn't mean I have to always spend money to make myself happi rather than my children. And of course I do think it is important for them to know the true value of the dolls and teach them to treasure things they owned, cause not all people who lived on the earth has things we owned. It is important to let them know about this I think.

 

From the time I was a very small child, I was meticulous with my toys and items. I still have a ribbon I won in kindergarten, and broke almost none of my toys. If I had gotten a BJD as a six year old, I can nearly guarantee you that nothing on it would have been fractured. I would trust a child who had proven themselves careful with a BJD. That being said, I know some adults that I wouldn't trust with my dolls.

 

When I was a child I'd take super special care of my dolls depending on how much I really liked them. I think if you spend a certain amount of money like with bjds you have to be sure it's one you'll absolutely like and always take care of which I think may be why some people take so long choosing their special doll.
I'm going to be getting my first bjd hopefully in a couple of weeks and I already know what I can and cannot do with it. It's a big responsibility for someone who's maybe 6-8 and don't care for their dolls in general. Like many have said it all depends on the child. I was a terrible child about some dolls but I know with bjds if you want a change you can easily change it. If I were to have a kid and she/he was the same way as I was about dolls I don't think I'd buy her/him one until she/he proved she/he really would take care of it properly.

 

I think I'll go with Viscera... It really depends on the kid... sometimes they think about dolls like toys.... but BJD's are not just regular toys, you know... We all know they're expensive, resin dust is toxic and, well, you must be a conscious person to understand that having a bjd requires some care.

 

Given the expense of the dolls, I would have a thorough conversation with said child before granting them one as they need to understand this isn't some toy you can just play in the sandbox with or drag through the mud.

 

I think if it's not a problem financially, and the child REALLY wants one and is perfectly responsible enough to handle it, then I would say that that's fine. Also, if you told the child that if they didn't play with the doll then they couldn't keep it, they'd be sure to play with it.

 

It's dependent on the kid, but I won't even trust my boyfriend with my doll, nonetheless a real child.
I wouldn't know what to say or how to act if a kid broke my doll. It's not like they can pay 500$ for a replacement. I just won't trust anyone with my babies.

 

I'd be extremely careful about it, to be honest. Not just because of the cost and delicate nature of the things, but resin is also toxic. I wouldn't give a doll to a child that might stick it in its mouth.

 

I also agree with some other users here that age isn't exactly the determining factor, but more so if the family (or whoever is paying) can afford it and is ok with their children/a child owning something that is rather expensive, so to speak.

I, myself, however, also feel that there isn't exactly a need for kids/young teens to own something as expensive as a BJD, so I wouldn't condone my own children (if any in the future) buying BJDS until they're older (maybe late teens) but again, people are free to do whatever they want.

 

I would start off with getting them something cheap... like the ones that LOOK like resin BJDs but are actually plastic? I know Hujuu, customhouse and maybe one or two other companies do (I thought DIM did o.o)? They're very cheap and are the same size as BJD (and something tells me they may be relatively lighter being not made of resin, which would be appropriate for a child to start off with). I would buy them one of those, and see how well they take care of it.
THEN if I see they do well with that, then get them an actual Resin BJD.

If the child is anything like I was growing up, I'd be kind of iffy about it... but if I see it's what makes them happy, who am I to stop them? ^^

 

When I turned 6 I got an American Girl doll for my birthday and loved her to pieces. Originally, she was just supposed to be on the shelf and placed with then put back, but I liked to put her in pajamas and tuck her into bed at night. I literally took her everywhere around the house with me, and I'd sneak her outside when I could. I never drew on her or pulled her apart or abused her; I will admit that I hated brushing my own hair and didn't want to put her through that, so it was a rat's nest. At one point her arm fell off- probably because I liked to hold her hand while we hung out, and she was sent off to be fixed and they brushed her hair (it's much thinner now).

I mean, it certainly depends on the child, but where's the line? I never put my toys in my mouth, I had a lot of respect for my dolls, and definitely appreciated the value, even though I didn't pay for it myself. But no, she isn't immaculate anymore. Her skin is all a little darker than it originally was (dirt? General grime I suspect), her hair thinner, and her plush body got a bit wrinkled, but I played with her for about 7-8 years and now have her tucked away for my own kids.

 

This is a two way street or me because I believe that it honestly depends on the child. I think that it's perfectly fine if the child is willing to accept the responsibility of having a doll. If they can understand that the doll is delicate, must be loved, cared for and properly treated, then I think that it's okay. It's a nice way to introduce them to bjds in general. When i was young, my grandmother let me see/touch her dolls,but I understood that they were NOT just toys. They were something precious and I should treat them as such. The bonus to that is that a child can learn to be responsible and learn how to treat things that are important to them at a young age. I believe that's a really good things for younger children nowadays. Most kids have toys that break all the time and are easily replaceable,but you can't always do that with bjds. (unless you're rich) XD

I wasn't the type to destroy toys(unless they were my sister's barbies),but some kids are. Some kids who are a little too aggressive with their possessions may need to wait a while before having a bjd. It's probably not a good idea either if they don't view the doll as something special or important. If they simply see it as another toy then chances are, they'll treat it like every other toy that they own...