Age appropriate for AG dolls

[AGMommy]

Another one who thinks the parents are not ALL to blame. I'm one of three sisters who took pride in many of my possessions. My oldest sister is even worse. She used to make my life miserable lecturing me about my OWN stuff. (Another story.) My middle sister, forget it. Is careless with anything and everything, regardless of who it belongs to. (My sisters are 50-something, and I'm 48.)

I honestly don't remember what or IF I even said anything to my DD (now 11) about taking care of her toys. She HIDES certain toys and dolls when friends come over, as she knows how rough they are with them. She's very selective of who plays with what, and only me or her best friend (also gentle with dolls) is allowed to touch any of her AG collection. She might have even learned from DH who's always told her 'now, be careful with that.'

[AGMommy]

I will add, to my previous post, that the first time DD ever played with an AG, she was 5. Our neighbor's 9 year-old DD had Samantha, and she was a very gentle little girl herself. Maybe watching how the neighbor played with her dolls had some kind of effect. (I'm happy with the results!)

[jenndon]

I've been thinking of this very thing, since dd just got hers, too. She really wanted one, and has "waited" for 4 months since she first really discovered them. I think that regardless of age, this is one thing that makes a difference--do they know what they have and do they really want an AG doll, or did someone just buy it for her?

Also, I think that the older age target helps distinguish them from baby dolls. And I have to say that even as an adult, some of the shoes and clothes are hard to get on, and yes, hard to keep up with!

[vew-tori]

When my DD was 3 she got a Baby Chou-chou for Christmas. She also got a Blue's Clue's Stamp in her stocking. Do you see where this is heades? While I was fixing dinner she gave Millie 2 stamps. One on her hand (just like she got at school) and one right on her face [img]frown.gif[/img] . I didn't know the Oxy trick then but we did use nail polish remover and I think Scrubbin Bubbles and got most of it off. Poor DD was so upset because I was so upset and she just wanted to reward her doll like she was rewarded at pre-school. We hid the stamp and I found it last summer (5 years later). DD remembered it too. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[moderator]

I feel it depends on the child as well. Age recommendations on toys are often so companies aren?t liable in the case of an accidental choking. But I?ve known kids who stick non-food objects into their mouths long past the age they?re supposed to, and some children in the age range where it is ?normal? to do so do not. Unfortunately, with toys we go by calendar age more than emotional age. I think emotional age is what really determines when a child is ready for a toy or has outgrown a toy.

I was very careful with my dolls from a very early age. However, in my teens one of my mom?s friends would not let her have an AG because she didn?t felt her daughter would ?break? it. I think it?s up to adults to decide when a child is ready to own such a doll, but I think when tying the AGs in with their books, eight is a pretty good average. However, some girls will never be ?emotionally? old enough to truly appreciate such a nice doll.

It also seems kids who get everything they want may not appreciate dolls. I did not receive much of anything when I was little (for example, one dinner I had was a cookie, and one Christmas my favorite gift was a tangerine!). When you don't get much, you treasure all you do. Most kids today have the "security" and assurance that if they break something, Mom and Dad will replace it.

<font color="#051E50" size="1">[ December 28, 2005 11:39 PM: Message edited by: Melissa ]</font>

[ElizabethLover101]

Yup your right mom!(AGmommy is my mom) [img]tongue.gif[/img] I always get nervous when friends come over beacause when they wanna brush their hair I can always hear them brushing it so hard! [img]eek.gif[/img] Thats why I say "I don't really wanna do that right now" unless its my best friend [img]smile.gif[/img]

[gritsmommyof5]

I agree it depend more on the child. Caroline was six when she got her doll and takes very good care of her. I also stressed to her that someday she can give her dolls to her little girl or Grand-daughter anc it would be so special that they be stil pretty.

She even has booster carsets for one of her dolls. She will buckle them in just like I buckle her brother in.

[Lara423]

I think when we give these special dolls to children we need to take over partial responsibility for them. My DD is almost 7. She now has 5 AG dolls. Well, we share them...LOL. The first 2 she got for her 5th and 6th birthdays. Those doll shave been on the shelf ofr their whole lives. They must have been lonely up there. She has gotten the last three over the last month. They are all down and being played with together. I still help her keep track of the accessories and make sure that the hair is in good shape before she tucks them in at night. She is pretty particular about how they look, too. If she has a problem or needs help with an outfit she just asks me.

Lara

[Kaileyfan1]

I agree it depends on the child.I got my first doll when I was 9 and man did I take good care of her!I stilll love my Kailey to this very day!

[lscogbill]

I think there are a lot of factors involved. My 4-year-old got her first AG for her third birthday (Nellie). She takes excellent care of Nellie, but Nellie is pretty low-maintenance to begin with. She actually takes excellent care of all her dolls, but Marisol's hair gets messed up if you breathe on her. Therefore, we dressed Mari up in her tutu and placed her on the tippy top shelf. Her Felicity is also pretty low-maintenance, mainly because DD never takes her hair out of the ponytail.

However, it is the parents' responsibility to make sure their children are taught to appreciate their belongings, as well as those of others. If a child can't take care of their toys (even inexpensive ones), that child shouldn't be granted the privilege of ownership. Also, parents should have enough sense to only give their children washable crayons and markers and to keep all scissors and "adult" pens far out of reach of little hands. There is no reason a child needs to have access to an ink pen until it is required in school.