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

I wanted to wait until my 9 year old was older to get her a doll, but my husband insisted that I find one to get her for her birthday. He felt that it was unfair for my 16 year old and myself to 'play dollies' without her. So...against my better judgement(and with his money XD) I did. I talked to her about the 'dos and don'ts' of having a doll and said that it would be taken if she didn't take care of her. My oldest daughter was so excited, she was sure she would be adopting her....and she is still waiting. The truth of the matter is, my daughter takes very good care of her doll. I think it helped that she had already seen the way her sister and I cared for our dolls. She loves her. She has also learned to sew and some photography. As much as I hate to admit it...I think my husband was right X3

 

Personally i dont like the idea of younger kids near at least my own bjds. If someone wants to buy them a bjd it doesnt matter what they do with it as its theres. But for my own dolls I feel safer with certain age ranges being able to hold or touch them.

 

It depends on what the parent chooses to buy for their child, and the maturity level of the child. My youngest son got his first computer at age 4, he’s now 13, and has always taken care of his electronics, and toys. I’ve seen young elementary school age kids with cell phones, Nintendo Wii and DS games. I’ve also seen adults chewing on paper clips, hair pins, and even pencils---a very unhealthy habit. In my opinion if a child (age 9+) has been exposed to your dolls over the years, understands what they are and how they’re handled, it would be okay to start them off on a trail basis with one of the least expensive dolls.

 

Really? I wondered why Barbie didn't have nipples or folds between her legs. I remember distinctly my mother explaining that it was because some people in the world were uncomfortable with showing certain body parts, and that the company wanted to sell as many dolls to as many people as possible.

My four-year-old daughter has a doll designed to help with toilet training; I'm not sure you quite understand what we're talking about here. She doesn't have internal labiae, a vaginal canal, a clitoris - she has a slight cleft between her legs and a urethral opening. For many children, particularly those with special needs, visual and tactile aids for learning about bodily functions are invaluable, and the reputable companies which produce them are well aware of the age-appropriate level of detail necessary. Without even going into the fact that children do have natural sexual feelings (which responsible parents are prepared to deal with without shaming or scarring), I would say that anyone who can see anything illicit or bothersome in a potty-training doll is seeing a reflection of their own rather serious issues with human sexuality.

And if I, as an adult, were uncomfortable with seeing genitalia on a small-scale sculpture of a human being, I'd stick to fashion dolls... or get out the power sander.

 

Love this response. You let your daughter prove that she was ready to have an expensive, fragile item - so now she not only understands the value of the object, she probably also knows that you and your husband had to work hard in order to get it for her. So she grasps that nice things, like privileges, have to be earned. And you have another person to play dolls with!

 

It all really depends on the child, my ten year old brother really wants one, and I'm looking to buy him one, probably a LittleFee or a Puki, because he takes really good care of his things, he never leaves his toys out where they could get broke and when he asked me if I'd buy him one, I sat him down and stressed how important it would be to take very good care of it and he understands it.
Some children aren't like that, so for children like that it wouldn't be a good idea to get them an expensive doll like BJDs. It just really depends on the child.

 

In my opinion, it entirely depends on the child.

I know a few kids, around 13, whom I wouldn't allow -near- my dolls. They weren't raised to take care of their things, but have a tendancy to play with something, and then toss it away.

However, if a child was raised to take incredibly good care of their things, especially expensive things, then I would see no issue with them having their own.

 

Sure! Coz' if they have HUGE interests in it, it will be okay! But, she/he must know how to take care of it!

 

Totally not up for anyone to decide what is "wrong" or not, save for those in charge of the kid. If the parents think it's OK, it's OK.

As others have said, whomever buys a doll can do whatever they want with it. Give it to a child or a pet or totally trash it (or mod it, since one person's mod is another person's totally ruining a doll).

Too many people seem to want to have a say in what other people are doing. I say, "Just mind your own business!" (People mess-up enough in their own lives without trying to dictate to other people!)

 

I got my first when i was 14, and hes still in nearly perfect shape. I think its great for any child to really want one, but they need to earn it to prove that they want it. Maybe save up half the money if their younger, and be sure not to make it too easy for them.
But thats just what i would do, if a parent really wants to buy their child a doll, i say the risk is up to them. I wouldnt butt into other people's business, its not my place to do that at all, they have the right to decide for themselves.

 

I don't see a problem with a child having a doll, as long as they are willing and able to take care of it. What I hate to see are children with these dolls, when they didn't earn them. Doing chores around the house is one thing, but I know when I was a child, I never got paid to do chores. They were just things that needed to be done around the house, and as my mother and father were out working, they couldn't. If they save up for these dolls through hard work, then they know how much it takes to EARN a Dollfie. There's nothing that sickens me more than a spoiled child.

 

Waa~! So many posts. I have to agree that it is indeed a good general age of 16 to let people do modifications unsupervised. I mean, I'm only 15, and I think I plenty mature but y'all probably know 18-20 year olds that whould kill themselves by doing stupid stuff with the MSC and everthything. Again, it's a level of maturity. Maybe it's my teenage irresponsibility talking, but I'm in 11th grade, and I hope I am responsible enough.

The maturity of the small child, or the maturity of the adult, it's all variables that are unaccountable. Right and wrong are such abstract terms anyway. Ah well. I suppose that's the point of the debate forum.

 

I would think that a doll, like many other things, could be used as a tool to teach responsibility? For my brother and I it was the dog we wanted and had to take care of. I think I'd be much more comfortable letting a child handle something that can't really be hurt. I mean, obviously a doll can be damaged, but unlike a puppy it can't be killed. [All debates about dolls having souls aside.]

Of course, there is the fiscal matter, but I know people who buy their nine year old expensive video game systems, or computers or cameras, etc. It's probably just a difference in opinion of what is too much money, and what the value of certain things are.

 

She has learned to respect her tiny BJDs. She washes her hands before handling them and puts them away so that "friends" do not handle them on playdates. It is the clothing that is an issue. I would say that if the younger person has no experience around BJDs, then I would wait. My daughter has been exposed to my dolls for 2-3 years before being given her first BJD. She knows that they can be played with, but are not toys. AnnMarie

 

Well it's a hard one as many of us will have different opinions.

My mum collected porceline dolls when I was smaller. We were allowed to look at them but not touch them. Our mum bought us a cheaper one each when we got a little older that we could do what we wanted with really. We both looked after them very well and ended up sitting with her collection.
In my own opinion, there are SO many dolls and toys for kids, so I don't think there's any need to give children BJD dolls. If you have money to throw away then sure. BJDS are, in my own opinion, an adult collector doll and are not toys. I was mega happy with Barbie dolls when I was younger. However, I agree with a lot of the people here when they say it's a good way to learn how to treat things with care, which is what my mum's doll collection did for us. We were only allowed to touch them when mum was there and we really respected that, but we never saw them as toys to play with.

 

i could not agree more! i had my first in 6th grade and one of the stalker type girls in my class got one and she came crying to me that she lost her head cap at an anime convo. and i felt really bad for that doll because i know shes not going to take care of her right. i let her carry my msd girl around and she DROPPED her. and left her there. she thought i would be mad so i spent most of the time looking for her rolling head and shoe but yet ive met a 6 year old boy in my neighbor hood who i would have no doubts about leaving any of my dolls with. and its not a matter of trust, its based on maturity, (considering i got my first doll when i was 10)

 

Eh, I am cool with people holding my dolls as long as I know my doll's going to be safe with them. If I don't feel they're responsible looking enough, I won't let them touch. Simple as that.

I've met kids that I don't mind allowing to hold my dolls. As long as they're old enough to understand what not to do, it's cool with me. IOW, no toddlers. XD

 

Thanksgiving, I brought my Puki for my four year old niece to play with. She loved it, especially the bit where you could change the hair and eyes, and the part where it stood up (unlike a Barbie.) The only reason I'm not buying her one for Chirstmas is that I've been expressly forbidden to spend that much money on anyone.
So number is a bad way to go by.
On the other hand, when I was a child, I had a sizable collection of porcelain dolls. And when my little brother was mad at me, he'd break one. (It's a good thing my father likes jigsaw puzzles and has access to the superglue they use on cars.) I didn't buy a BJD until I no longer lived with him, and he was the age of many people on this forum. (although he'd probably sell it on ebay these days.) So again, number doesn't matter -personality does.

 

well yes i'd buy one for my child who is young but she takes GOOD care of mine when i let her hold them and she is still intersted after months, so yes i think i'll get her one once i have the money... would i get my older child one? no as said child shows no interst and doesn't take care of thier stuff unlike thier younger sibling.

so comes down to the child honestly.

 

depends on each child. Some kids are extremely mature and careful, other are little monsters. My 18 month old daughter is allowed to look at my dolls and she calls them "La bebe", doesnt even attempt to touch them, but she does ask to give them a kiss, which she does, and happily leaves them alone.