Too young for the hobby?

It really depends on the child. Some youngsters can easily handle a bjd, others maybe not so well. I can't say a set age, because when you get really young kids parental involvement also plays a role. I certainly don't think 12 years is too young -- that's old enough to have a sense of what they're worth and how to care for one. Some activities such as modding definitely requires some adult supervision and the same could be said for interaction with other hobbyists via the net or in person at meetups.

I also take issue with the idea that if a kid doesn't save up for the doll themselves then they're spoiled brats who won't care for the doll. Didn't anybody ever get a gift that they really valued because it was given by a loved one? Saving up for something by oneself can really give a sense of accomplishment and make the item very special, however, there are other reasons for items to be special too. I don't think kids should be spoiled rotten, but people do give gifts sometimes, and I see nothing inappropriate about giving a nice doll to a doll crazy kid.

 

Heck, I know a 17-year-old who isn't mature enough for one of these dolls. She met mine and immediately asked me where to find one, picked one out, begged her parents, then gave up. Infatuation can be a cruel thing. While I don't think age is an accurate way to gauge if a person is ready to plunge into the wonderful world of ABJD, I do think maturity is, as well as, as silly as it sounds, attention span.
One of the things I was the most worried about when getting my first doll is getting bored with her. (I didn't, by the way. Some nights I wish I could take her to bed with me. How silly is that?!) I made sure I thought about it for months-- while slowly putting money away for her.
I think paying for your dolls yourself is also important. Special occasions like graduations, etc., in my mind, constitute getting a doll maybe, but as far as birthdays and what not, I say splitting it in half is fair (that's what my parents did for me for my in-coming puki. Keep in mind I'm still paying for the whole thing, they just agreed to pay for half so that I could make a group-order deadline with my friends. I'm going to be paying them back in installments throughout summer.) And for first-timers, I think it's INCREADIBLEY important to pay for it all yourself. That way, while saving the money, your new found love can be put to the test. If you don't lose intrest by the time you have the money, go for it, I say.
But, that's just me.

 

Word, Haiku.

 

Well I am 14, and I take good care of my dolls. And I have a familly member who is 10 and she has one. But she is really good with her doll. She keeps it out of the sun, away from smoke, ect... It is differant for every person. So really I helped my familly member do all the research on the dolls, told her every thing I knew about them and if she needs help I ask her. She doesnt hold other peoples dolls. (She thinks she might hurt it or something.) But At meets I ask if she can hold other people's dolls. And they are ok with it. And she holds them really well and is really good with them.

 

My 8 year old has just asked for a BJD for her birthday in two weeks. She has asked for nothing but a horse for the last year but she just realized that is not happening this year. There seemed to be nothing else she wanted until today. She asked me: since I cannot get a horse I would like a BJD....a big BJD. She actually paid enough attention to ask for a Volks doll..lol. Not even, since I don't even have one yet! but I was thinking an Obitsu as a first BJD.. She is great with my Resin kids and has handled my vintage and antique dolls all her life but I think she will have more fun with an Obitsu since they don't seem quite as breakable...
Her school friends though...I wouldn't let any of the little monsters near my dolls, they are all out of control!

 

By way of an example.. First year of high school I was bought a graphing calculater (at the time nearly 200 bucks O.O) most of the other kids had one too. Some had to buy a new one the next MONTH where as I still have my calculator... We had one girl who broke or lost hers so often her parents stopped buying her new ones she just had to use the ones in class.

I have met some children who are 8 who I would let hold my dolls and could see being trusted to own a fairly inexpensive doll like a brownie or bobobie... something about 200 bucks would be safe in their hands and see alot of love. Yet I've met adults I don't like letting hold my doll.

My children? if my eldest wanted a doll he would have to share it with me. He's turning 6 this year and if he asks nicely I'll let him hold my dolls with supervision and i don't get bent out of shape if he touches them. Sometime between 8 and 12 I'd consider it if he found a way to prove to me that he could be trusted but he as an individual is not the best at keeping his toys nice so it would probably be a little closer to the 12 end of that spectrum.

 

I definitely agree with you, PixiPop. I'm seventeen and I've wanted a BJD since I was fourteen--my parents were sure I was joking when I sat them down and asked very seriously if I could give them the equivalent amount of cash that the BJD I wanted would cost, and they would purchase it for me using their credit card. I think they thought it was one of my passing obsessions. ^_^ While I think we all have those, they were pretty sure my interest in BJDs would wane---
It hasn't.
However, there are some kids in my neighborhood who I'm scared to even show my dollie because they would literally pull her apart. My younger sister, who's nine, shares my enthusiasm however, and was the sole audience when I opened the box containing my Miho head today. She was just as happy as I was. Still, I think all younger kids share a degree of absentmindedness. I'm not sure I would trust her with my Kat because, even though she would have the best intentions, she might leave it outside in the sun while showing it off, lose a magnetic hand by accident, etc.
Still, I suppose that happens to everyone occasionally, so I think it really boils down to 'it depends on the kid'.

 

I agree that it depends on the child, I know a 6 year who if mature enough to handle a doll with care and I know someone my age (19) who isn't mature enough for these dolls. So yea I think it depends on the maturity of the child.

 

I think it really depends on the child. Speaking for myself, I was mature about things like that. And they usually came with a warning of how I was to take care of them or there would never own another item like it as long as I lived (or until I was old enough to get it for myself kind of thing).

Other situations are just that the parents have it to blow on the kid and the disposition that their child should experience such an item.

I agree that this is a "hobby" and that there is so much involved in it. And I"m sure such parents believe that your dolls are purchaseable with hair, eyes, and outfit. Walking into something like this with blinders on certainly could alter their decisions to buy. Or perhaps, they find it interesting enough to research more on.

If the parent is that open minded it could be that he/she has his/her own interest in these dolls. Taking the kid home to research them would be something to do and think about.

But how young is too young? I really believe it depends on the parent's upbringing of the child. Some are just spoiled, others, like myself, are given chances to prove their responsibility and maturity regarding such things.

 

I heard someone mention anyone under 16 needs to have someone help them with their BJD. I found this offending seeing as I am 16 and am completely independent with mine. But on the other hand, I'm too mature for my age (along with the fact I've graduated already and have a full time job).

Really it's not a matter of "too young for the hobby." It's a matter of "too immature for the hobby."

 

My 13 and 15 year old daughters have been very responsible with my bjds. They always wash their hands before they touch them, and know all about the proper handling of the dolls. I don't have any trouble with trusting them with my expensive dolls. They love them as much as I do. They both want to save up for their own dolls. I already made a deal with them that I will go half and half with them on the price. I have taken them to a doll meet before, and they were very careful with everyone's dolls. They asked permission before touching anyone's dolls and were very respectful.

 

I'm 15, I handle my dolls super duper extra good, since they're, yknow, mine. XD;
My brother, who is 13, handles them rather well, and I would leave him alone with them, but I don't think he's capable of spending too much time on that, but I think the right 13 year old could.
My cousin Toby -loves- my dolls. He wants me to bring them everytime I go over, and he'll cry if I don't. He can say most of their names and kisses their heads and plays with them. I wouldn't leave them alone with him, but he can definetly play with them while i'm in the room. The kicker? He's 2 and a half years old.

I really don't think there's a 'too young' age, it all depends on how the kid was brought up and stuff.

 

It may interest you to know, that in the back of the luts manual I recieved with my most recent doll, the very last line says
'it is reccommended to use our products when you're 16 years old or above' I think they were referring to Modding and using Face-up gear though. Still it intrigued me that they had suggested an age.

 

I think this has already been mentioned but most of those are more of a CYA for companies than a real recommendation about the age for which the doll would be appropriate. Though it is true that modding and doing face-ups can involve hazardous materials and is best done either by an adult or under an adults supervision. In my state people under 16 can't buy certain types of glues, paints and anything with propellants (hobby sealant sprays included) so that could be a factor as well. I also have to wonder if those labels are a response to the change in the CPSC laws requiring safety testing (for toxins like BPA and lead) in all products intended for use by individuals under the age of 15. I would assume most doll companies do not produce enough product to want to have to go through with the testing, or even to be able to afford to go through with it. I am also not 100% certain that resin dolls would pass such tests to be honest. Making it known that the dolls are intended for use by "adults" avoids the issue altogether. But I don't know if that is really the case or not, it's just one of my theories. My Little Apple Dolls have the same warning on them, and I can't imagine a child being unable to handle one. They are just simple plastic dolls with clothes, no more complex to play with than a barbie. Though I'm sure subject matter wise many parents would not want their children playing with them.

 

This this this. I don't think there is a set age, but I honestly think if that 9 year old wants to save up the money (COMPLETELY) for a BJD, then they obviously are mature enough to handle having a BJD. When kids buy stuff for themselves, I find they appreciate it more than something a family member or whatever buy it for them. I mean, I know no kids who would spend 400$ of their own money on something to go out and throw it around. No matter the age.

 

I got my first doll when I was 12, but I became interested when I was 9 or 10. I've always had a family that respects art. My aunt collects and sews clothes for Barbies and had gifted me with some of her dolls and creations. When I first saw a bjd, I knew it would be insanely expensive, but that I'd start a collection one day. I have saved up for everything surrounding my dolls. Now I spend a lot of time photographing and 'playing' with them. I think, in a way, that my dolls have helped me mature even more.

 

I'm 13 and I have no trouble believing that my friends would break my dolls (accidentally) and not be too devastated. But I don't really give them the opportunity to play with them unless I REALLY trust them to handle with respect. If you really love your doll, don't let people play with them that don't understand their value and meaning.

 

I've got to agree with all the people saying it depends on the kid. I'm fourteen and I had my eye on BJDs for a long time before I actually got one. I do know a lot of people in high school who I would not even considered letting hold a doll that's worth so much, and it bothers me that there are kids almost in college that can't be trusted that far.
With kids and anyone in their early teens, I really think that before they can get one they need to at least think it over for a few months. If, after that time, they still want one, then sure, they can. Kids near my age (or at least quite a lot of them) tend to pick things up and then never come back to it. During all that time, if they're anything like me, they'll search on how to take care of BJDs so if they end up getting one they're not completely ignorant. If someone who knew next to nothing about BJDs wanted one, I really wouldn't let them get one until they read up a lot about them.
But yeah, I just agree overall that it depends on the person.

 

While I agree that it does mostly depend on the person, I can also see why age is a factor. For instance, in general you wouldn't hand your beloved doll to a five year old. Why? Because they are not yet old enough to know to be careful, even when warned to be. For the majority of twelve year olds I know, the concept stays the same. I wouldn't hand my doll to them, knowing that most at that age are not responsible of much. Therefore if something happened to the doll in their hands, most would be sorry, but few would really get the cost. Not to debunk the expirence or opinion of anyone here. I'm sure there are quite a few fairly young member who treat their dolls extremely well.

 

I agree with everyone who states that: "IT'S REALLY DEPENDENT ON THE PERSON"! Two criteria come into play at this question:

1. Can you trust the child (they are individuals)?
2. How do you view dolls personally (are they merely expensive objects to look at or meant to be played with)?

If you answer the questions honestly you should have your answer. To me it's always a case by case situation...