Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think 6 year olds play with dolls and prams still

49 replies

Artie30 · 02/11/2021 15:47

Dd is 6, year 2. She's never really been into dolls and doll prams as such. She's always preferred barbies and animal toys! But plays with dolls occasionally.

But After school she's been playing with her dolls pram and dolly instead - all good with me, she's 6.

She wanted to take her dolls pram out the front for a walk. She opened the door and seen her class mate out playing over the road and she brought her pram right back in.

I asked her what's up and she said her friend would laugh at her. I've reassured her she's only 6 and I'm pretty certain I've seen said classmate out with a dolls pram herself!

I just feel heartbroken that a 6 year old child is
Too worried about what others will think to not play with her pram! 😪

Are kids really this cruel? I'm not sure what with give Dd the idea other kids would laugh at age.

August birthday too so youngest in her class!

OP posts:
peppersauce1984 · 02/11/2021 16:39

My nearly 10 year old would still play with barbies.

TheSpanishApartment · 02/11/2021 16:40

My 6 (nearly 7) year old in Y2 still loves playing with dolls. She doesn't tend to push them in the pram anymore but likes getting them changed, putting them to bed etc etc

RewardTime · 02/11/2021 16:44

My 7yo takes her pram out, usually with her dad when they walk the dogs. I forget she has it so don;t always offer it. She does take dolls in it but prefers soft ragdoll types rather than Baby Annabell/Born or similar.

MotorwayDiva · 02/11/2021 16:54

Six year old year one, still plays with dolls and takes pram out. There is plenty of time to be grown up later

idontlikealdi · 02/11/2021 16:56

Dts are 10 and have never been into dolls but they lover their soft toys. They still play with them every day. They have a school residential coming up and don't want to go because they don't want to bring the ones they sleep with him case they get laughed. They are the youngest in their year. It's sad.

Imabitbusyatthemoment · 02/11/2021 16:57

My 7 year old son still loves his baby doll and goes through phases of playing with her. DD10 still plays with Playmobil.

thesugarbumfairy · 02/11/2021 16:58

Some kids can be cruel yes, even at 6 - but its obviously behaviour they've learned from adults. And sadly your DD has picked up on this attitude and is now embarrassed about her pram. Thats so sad - she's still so young :(

DS2 loves dolls. He's nearly 12. He has done right from day 1. I don't think a day has gone by that I haven't had to share a bath with at least one plastic fashion doll dripping on the side.

He went through a phase of not playing with them, Y4 and Y5. I suspect its because he was teased at breakfast and after school club. At some point though he stopped giving a shit.

We went to a doll convention at the weekend. I have never seen him so happy. He has found his people. Even if most of them were middle aged women!

Etonmessisyum · 02/11/2021 17:03

I played with my dolls well into high school it was an escape and some of my friends would play with them too. I had a lovely double pram and twin dolls one called bonnie and the other was Katie
My sister wasn’t into dolls though she liked my little ponies

6 is very young, encourage your daughter to enjoy her dolls and pram.

stayathomer · 02/11/2021 17:08

I agree and it is crazy but I remember ds asking me not to buy paw patrol yoghurts for him anymore as they were too baby ish and some peoplein his class had laughed at him. He would have been 5 or 6 at the time. I couldn't believe a child that age would call another baby ish!!

Stompythedinosaur · 02/11/2021 17:13

Totally normal to play with dolls at 6.

Christmas1988 · 02/11/2021 17:19

My 7 year old son brought his dolls down to play with last week, I didn’t even bat an eyelid of course 6year old still play with dolls and prams.

Pottedpalm · 02/11/2021 17:22

This is sad! I had a doll as a present when I passed the 11+.
I knitted clothes and blankets and took her out in the pram 😄

Aorh · 02/11/2021 17:26

My 7yo wants one for Xmas despite having rarely played with the ones we have. I don’t see how it’s any different to any other role play and I’m expecting a good couple of years of playing cafe/shop/vets etc

Simonjt · 02/11/2021 17:43

My son still does and he is six, he has baby dolls, he isn’t really interested in other dolls yet.

He has had a few comments about it this year, so now we walk baby ‘Dave’ and baby ‘Alice’ around the block in the pram, he used to take them to the park, but a few friends were mean about it so he doesn’t anymore. A shame for him, but also a shame for me as I can’t just sit on a bench and ‘babysit’ at the park anymore.

Playdoughcaterpillar · 02/11/2021 17:47

Definitely normal at 6. My 12yo has only lost interest in the last 6mths or so.

Cheerbear23 · 02/11/2021 17:56

Yes I think 6 is prime doll playing age if there is such a thing.
My DD played with them until top class at primary school (although not outside).

Hesma · 03/11/2021 09:51

My 8 year old does but must of her friends don’t however she’s not bothered

Kanaloa · 03/11/2021 10:07

My 6yo plays with dolls still. Although there was a thread recently here where a poster just couldn’t believe 6yo might still like paw patrol so who knows.

I don’t see why there is such a rush to grow up. To be honest at 6/7 is when you should be playing with dolls, making up imaginary games and such. What’s the alternative, sitting studying? Getting ready for your career as a surgeon? Playing video games?

Wondergirl100 · 03/11/2021 10:41

aw my 7 year old is a massive doll fan! As are all her friends.

IAmMeThisIsI · 03/11/2021 11:24

Aww bless her heart! I bet that kid on the street has been making fun of her and calling her a baby for liking her dollies. Little cow lol. I shouldn't say that about the kid but meh. I played with my Barbies unil I was about 12! I remember the day I pulled them out and just forgot how to play. I had outgrown them. Tell your little girl that her dollies are super cool and you will play with them if she doesn't want to. Aw poor little girl!

Pottedpalm · 04/11/2021 14:53

@idontlikealdi

Dts are 10 and have never been into dolls but they lover their soft toys. They still play with them every day. They have a school residential coming up and don't want to go because they don't want to bring the ones they sleep with him case they get laughed. They are the youngest in their year. It's sad.
I don’t think they will be laughed at; I have been on residentials with pupils up to age 18 and many take soft toys.
Pottedpalm · 04/11/2021 14:54

In fact, I have seen ‘soft toy’ on the kit list many times!

Borris · 04/11/2021 14:55

My 11 year old still plays with her babies

MagicalFish · 04/11/2021 14:56

My DD is almost 6 and loves her dolls pram. My DS is 8 and still occasionally plays with his too - although he wouldn't want his school friends knowing that, which is sad but understandable.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page