What age is too old for a doll?

[sammyjayneex]

My 9 and 10 year old daughter have had for those. 'Our generation' dolls for Xmas and was wondering would you consider this too old to play with dolls or am I being silly? Should I just get them the dolls they've asked for ?

[Dfg15]

If they've asked for them they can't think they're too old. I love a doll and I'm nearly sixty! (Haven't actually got any but I do like looking at them in toy shop shops)

[Deux]

My 8 year old DD has one on her wish list. Playing with dolls is something she tends to do with a friend, so they'll make up elaborate role plays, play schools, that kind of thing.

I don't think 9 and 10 is too old.

[Dfg15]

Not sure where that extra 'shop' came from

[paxillin]

Too old for a toy is for the child to decide. If they want them, why not?

[ClosedAuraOpenMind]

my niece, whose almost 12, still plays with her Our Generation and American Girl dolls, so definitely not too old!

[longdiling]

My dd had an our generation doll last year at age 10, nearly 11. Make the most of it I say, this year she wants a bloody iPhone!

[DPotter]

I would have thought 9 & 10 yrs is the perfect age for dolls as they can expand their imaginations wonderfully.
I don't think you're ever too old for a toy, be it a doll, toy car or skipping rope. Well actually maybe not a skipping rope - that would kill my back, but I hope you get my drift.
If your DDs have asked for dolls and you can afford them - go for it.

[MollyHuaCha]

Of course they are not too old for dolls. When I was 9, my friends and I collected Pippa dolls and their accessories (a less sexualised version of Barbie, prob no longer around). When I became a mum, I was shocked to see 2 yr olds with Barbie type dolls because I think if toddlers have dolls, they should be a baby dolls. And I've heard of 4 yr olds saying they are too old for dolls completely, 7 yr kids 'too old' for playmobil etc. Sad when children can't be children. They have the rest of their lives to do adult things. Please get the dolls. If they want them, they'll love them

[winterisnigh]

I wish my dd wanted a doll. as pp said - too old is when they stop wanting it!

[SatsukiKusakabe]

Molly - I've bought my 3 year old a Lottie doll for her birthday - she is wearing a yellow rain Mac and boots and jeans and looks much more like a little girl than the Barbies and Disney princess ones. There are lots of different sorts, they are really lovely.

I would love it if my dd was still asking for dolls at 10 and would absolutely buy them.

My niece is 9 and still asks for dolls, but is being encouraged away from them now. I remember when I was thirteen my mum bought me a grown up vanity case, and I was so disappointed - a big part of me wanted some sort of toy still.

[Nearlyadoctor]

I've just bought my Dd 9.5 an Our Generation doll for Christmas. She has never really liked dolls particularly baby dolls ( she doesn't like babies full stop), but she saw the OG ones in Hamleys in the summer and out of the blue about 3 weeks ago mentioned she would like one.
Also researched American girl and Gotz but still decided on OG. I ordered it from Smyths with a couple of outfits ( Holiday Hope) and she is beautiful.

She also wants a tablet and we said she could have an iPad mini but that would be it ( except her stocking obviously) or a cheaper tablet and other presents. She said she would rather have a cheaper tablet as long as she could have an OG doll so obviously really really wants one. . Ordered a Kindle fire today!!

I think it's great they still want toys! Loads of time for everything else.

[MigsSlippers]

My DD was never into baby dolls but suddenly wanted one of these dolls at 9. I went with it but didn't want to spend loads on a whole wardrobe, sofas, American girl branded stuff etc because I didn't think she would actually play with them in practice. I was right, she hasn't, but I think it was right to give her some of it.

[BroomstickOfLove]

DD (just turned 10) has never really liked dolls, but has asked for one for Christmas, partly to practise hairstyles on.

[MollyHuaCha]

Satsuki, I've just had a look at Lottie in her yellow rain jacket, yes she's cute and the kind of doll (in my opinion!) little girls should have. Barbie had a makeover recently, but still has thighs that don't meet...

[SatsukiKusakabe]

What I've noticed though, particularly with my niece, is that if we buy a girl a toy like that we expect her to play with it, when actually I think she has more of a collectors instinct with them and that is maybe something we tolerate or encourage with boys and their toys than girls. It is not of any less value to her to have it, she's just not going to make believe tea parties or whatever. Boys can acquire models or figures or vehicles just to add them to a collection, they don't necessarily have to play games with them.

[caitlinohara]

Satsuki I remember the first Christmas I didn't get 'toys' any more as well. I think I was about 12 or 13. I got some stuff for my room and a goldfish! I remember that it was the first Christmas I didn't really enjoy, and feeling sad because there was nothing to 'play' with.

[SatsukiKusakabe]

It is odd if you think about it why little girl's dolls aren't often modelled on little girls...hopefully that is changing a bit. Even Disney with their "toddler dolls" are a bit better now.

[SatsukiKusakabe]

Yes it felt like the end of childhood a bit

[1happyhippie]

My eldest dd is 9 and still plays with dolls.
I played with them at that age too. I can remember still getting my Barbies out when I was about 12. I just used to do their hair then, but loved them.

Dd has asked for playmobil stuff this year too. I don't like that it says for ages 4-10 years on the box, because clearly you can play with it until any age.

[Cagliostro]

DD got a Lottie (stargazer one with telescope :o) for her 9th and plays with her, plus her monster high etc. I'm sure she would be thrilled to get another but I've got her the Lottie superhero outfit and scooter/ramp. She's also got her eye on the superhero girls figures, the my generation type stuff and the older better project mc2 dolls.

If she's still into dolls for her 10th I'm thinking of a Tudor one I saw on amazon as she's a history nerd :o

[Cagliostro]

She's expressed a wish for playmobil as well! I said santa probably won't be obliging as they've got far more than we can store already 😳 Otherwise he would be delivering the water park...

[Cagliostro]

My mum is ecstatic that DD loves dolls so much as I hated them so she missed all that with me (she used to make amazing historical costume dolls)

[DilapidatedGlamourpuss]

I stopped playing with dolls around 7 (was the kind of kid who had their head buried in a book instead) but I used to collect them because I thought they were pretty. I just liked to look at them! I think I got my last one for my 11th birthday.

I don't think any age is too old OP, if they like them

[DilapidatedGlamourpuss]

Cagliostoro those dolls sound lovely. What kind of costumes? I used to like collecting china dolls in Victoria/Georgian era outfits.

[GreenGinger2]

My dd is nearly 12 and still playing with her Gotz dolls.