AIBU - 7 year old too old for dolls ???????

[Someonetakemebackto91]

Hi
Aibu to think this is ridiculous or am I behind in the time’s. We have been discussing amongst friends what’s on the kids wish lists this year, they seemed take back by the fact by daughter had asked for the kindi kid dolls and furreal kangaroo ( and some other toys like hatchimal l fairy )
They said they were not buying theirs toys this year as they have grown out of them ( same year in school )
Is my child a young 7 year old ?
She has asked for a camera and watch for her birthday but she is still v much in to toys !

My 7 year still plays with all kinds of toys and dolls are still her favourite! She loves her baby dolls, dolls house, Slyvanian families has recently got into Lego, which I consider a more ‘grown up’ toy, so her interests growing but she still likes her other toys. I would be really upset if she grew up so fast, childhood is amazing and I want her (and me) to make the most of hers, we are definitely in no rush whatsoever to grow up so quickly.

In the bottom draw of her chest of drawers lie Rory and Sorche, twin newborn dolls. They are dressed and wrapped in hand knitted blankets. Just occasionally, the clothes seem to change; I notice when spring cleaning. I am not sure which child it is but the youngest is 22 now and they are her babies. She’s perfectly normal, works, has good friends, a 1st, no particular insecurities.
Seven is certainly not to old for dolls or other toys. Far better and more normal than turning little ones into precocious ‘pre-teens’ as soon as they’re out of nursery.

Wow! My 9 year old son wants a dancing toy llama and a black panther costume for Christmas. And he has many many teddies to cuddle at night and other toys he plays with. Those girls are definitely the odd ones out if they're not playing with toys.

Your friends are indulging in some competitive parenting and talking out of their arses. 7 years olds love imaginative play and dolls form part of it. DS (7) has me playing schools with him (it would be all day if I let him) where his toys are the children and we are the teachers!

I gave up dolls at 11 of my own accord and I think that's quite normal.
Kids are encouraged to grow up far too soon.

My DD has just turned 9 and though her tastes have changed slightly she is still in to dolls. She wanted 2 reborn dolls for her birthday and has spent all evening getting them changed and walking them in their pushchair.

She still plays with her shleich and barbies too

God no, my 9 year old son loves a soft toy, usually Pokemon characters but still. Ignore any po faced misery's

Grown out of toys by 7? How sad.

I played with dolls houses until I was 12, and I'll be honest, I still love setting them up!

In principle, dressing up dolls and setting up dolls houses is no different to playing Animal Crossing, and nobody has a problem with older children and adults playing that?

Those who brag about 7yos being too old for toys will be the ones moaning that they can't pry kids off screens

It's lovely to read this thread and see so many children are still enjoying playing...my dd is ten and loves toys still. Nothing makes her happier than a trip to the toyshop. My ds is 12 and no longer really interested except in his toy soldiers occasionally. I'll be sad when my DD outgrows her toys.

Children that play longer with dolls and sylvanians etc basically using their imaginations are more likely to have more developed social, language and emotional skills.

My 10 year old still loves dolls, as does her best friend. I have to drive her to her friends house with her pram so nobody sees, even though she only lives minutes away!

What a sad world we live in when you have to ask if 7 year olds can play with toys

have more developed social, language and emotional skills

Mine never played with dolls. Perfectly good with language/social/emotional skills.

I'm well old and still have my doll sat on top of my wardrobe in my room 😂 couldn't bare to put her in the attic 😂

I've bought my seven year old niece some generation dolls so I bloody hope not

My DD is 16 and still plays with dolls and teddy bears.

I have a 4 year old, so don’t yet know much about parenting a 7 year old. I played with dolls until I was 11.

What on Earth do kids at 7 get as gifts if not toys?

Yeah, this is a weird competitive thing I’ve noticed parents doing, some of the mums at school threw out their kids Lego because they “didn’t play with toys anymore” at 8 years old. It’s a bit sad.

My dad threw out all my toys when I was about 23 and there's part of me that never quite forgave him.

It's been asked what non toy things 7yos get... mine is getting a lot of camping equipment, books and decorative stuff. Plus toys (like Lego and Our Generation). Definitely not 'Youtuber Merch'. But 7yos do other stuff than just play or go on screens.

I am glad to read the replies haha
I would be so upset if she stopped playing with toys now - she still loves play doh etc to

NO NO NO!! Is your child wants a doll for Christmas or her birthday then buy her one!! Some people just want the children to grow up so quickly, I think if they still ask for toys for Christmas then you should get them.

I don’t think any adult should tell a child it to old for toys.

Thurmanmurman

I think thats really lovely of your driving round to your daughter friends house with the baby doll and pram, so they can play in secret!! and they won’t lose there street cred!!

I also bet a lot of girls pulled out there dolls in lockdown, and started to play with them again.

Yeah, this is a weird competitive thing I’ve noticed parents doing, some of the mums at school threw out their kids Lego because they “didn’t play with toys anymore” at 8 years old. It’s a bit sad.

That's plain weird - Lego is 'age 4-99' isn't it?
DDs first week of labs on her MEng consisted of group work building Lego robots.

At 7, it's normal for some kids to like dolls, others might prefer toy dogs, and/or Lego, k'nex, magnetix, etc etc etc but surely to goodness none of them have yet outgrown toys.