AIBU to buy my 11 year old a doll?

[leopardprintchick]

Dd 11 (just started secondary late August Birthday) is doll crazy and I mean crazy, she lives breathes dolls and babies, birthday money is spent on really baby clothes for her dolls etc

She has 30 plus dolls all her children with names own clothes etc.

She's desperate for a reborn toddler doll for Xmas and I'm currently looking but everyone else around me is saying she's to old etc and at secondary school and I should make her grow up

She's a young 11, really she should only be just starting year 6 has she be been born a few days later

Should I just go with it knowing it will make her the happiest girl alive and make the most out of it while it last?

My mum and dad didn’t have any money until I was about 10/11 and that was the time they bought me my most treasured toy memories - lovely dolls and dolls house (Lundby, amazing). I didn’t talk much about them at school etc but wow I loved them. I hope she lives what you buy xx

If that's what she really wants then of course. I'd get something else as well in case her new secondary school friends ask what she got for Xmas though... unfortunately some girls may be faux teenagers.

I feel a bit similar about DS who’s 11 and still loves Lego

Lego (and K'nex) is completely age-independent, especially if they get into technics or robotics stuff. The first weeks practicals on my DDs engineering degree consisted of them building cool stuff out of Lego!

Thanks losingmind.

everyone else around me is saying she's to old etc and at secondary school and I should make her grow up She's a young 11, really she should only be just starting year 6 has she be been born a few days later
Should I just go with it knowing it will make her the happiest girl alive and make the most out of it while it last?

Course you should! Screw everyone else.I have an 11 year old who still likes teddies on the end of his bed, same thing.
If he wanted a new one for Christmas, no problem! Still kids. Still young.
Grow up indeed. Still don't think I've mastered the art of that at cough old fart cough age lol

Up to about 12 it's common to still play with toys, but that's an average so it's later for some, earlier for others. I certainly did at her age

I have a 14 (almost 15year old) who still loves teddies, she has 100’s, I had to get her a bunk bed so her teddies can have a bed. She doesn’t hide them from friends, she’s not embarrassed about it, she says when she gets her own flat/house her teddies will have their own room.

These are beautiful dolls; the company is Welsh, I believe.
www.bonnieandpearl.com
A friend gave her delighted granddaughter one and I believe Princess Charlotte has one too, or was at least given one.

I bought myself a Barbie for my 40th birthday as I always wanted one and had to have a sensible Sindy instead of trailer trash Barbie.

I had dolls for presents up to age 11. Get the doll - she'll be a long time grown up.

My 13 & 10 year olds have spent the entire afternoon playing dolls. They both love them. 13 year old hides it at school, but will happily play with her sister and her friends 😁. Buy the doll. Childhood is short, make the most of it.

What’s the theory on pushing her to ‘grow up’? Remove the dolls so she can progress to craving makeup and the attention of boys?

I’d have thought there were enough pressures on tweens these days to head in that direction. The only hesitation I’d have is if her obsession starts to affect schoolwork. I’d probably also buy her an introductory term to a hobby activity that could potentially catch her interest across the teen years. Something she could transition to (away from dollies) in the next couple of years.

Otherwise, get her learning infant CPR, basic cookery and show her how to lead games with actual live littlies? In a couple of years you could be raking in the $$$ with the block’s most in-demand babysitter!

There are also a lot of Instagram accounts for Barbies, played straight and run by teens and adults. Dolls are cool .

I wonder how many other kids from school (including the cool ones) were hiding such toy-based secrets through secondary? It makes me think of "Secret Single Behaviour" from Sex and the City- but in a nice way.

My dd age 11 loves dolls. She has a little sister so at the moment she will happily play for hours with her. She also loves my little pony!

I remember still occasionally playing with dolls and Lego until I was in well into Y10. Was most put out when my three-years-younger sister refused to play with me any more when she was about 11!

If your daughter wants the doll then get it for her!

I played with sylvanian families until well into secondary school. Definitely get her the doll!

My 11yo hasn’t not long got rid of her Barbies and Disney Princess dolls and I’m pretty sure that’s due to friends comments rather than her outgrowing them. She’s asked for the Harry Potter dolls for Christmas so I think she’s missing playing dolls. She also has a friend obsessed with the Reborn dolls. Let her have them I say!

DSHathawayGivesMeFannyGallops

I'll dig it out tomorrow.. Not sure how to put a picture up but will try..... I'm off to a party and thinking it will actually make a good prop, have it wrapped in a blanket then unveil it to people....

@cookingteaforsix You are never too old for what makes you happy

You've summed up life in a single sentence. Spot on!

Dd has our generation dolls as well as soon reborn but us really keen to have a toddler doll rather than a baby, she's been chatting about names and is keen on either Primrose Laura (Prim for short) or Penelope Laura

Along with doll she will be asking for the usual latest trainers, Adidas tops, Primark, new look and Claire's accessories vouchers in someways she definitely a 11 year old that's just started secondary

She shares a room with younger sister so us fine having school friends over as just says dolls stuff was hers and now is her sisters

Definitely going to get her the doll fur Xmas, they bring her such joy and happiness

In fairness I loved my dolls and all I ever wanted to be growing up was s Mum, I had my first at 23.

I definitely think she will have a whole herd of children when she's older

Another one to say go for it, OP. My 13yo DS still plays with his Lego minifigures - I'll be sad if he ever moves on from that. I used to collect the tat from Happy Meals up until I was 18!

If it makes her happy, there's no harm in it.