Is a 13 yo girl too old for an American Girl Doll?

[superme80]

I got my doll at 12 and played with her until I was about 14. Now she sits in my closet until I can find a safe place to display her. I know I was "too old" to play with her, but I was so happy my parents bouhgt her for me for my 12th birthday.

 

[VAfamily1998]

I remember when I was about 11 or 12 I first "discovered" the American girl dolls (this would have been in the mid-late 80's and I think the only ones then were Kirsten, Molly, and Samantha). I didn't even have any dolls anymore at that point, but I was interested in the dolls from the historical aspect of it--I wanted to read the books and get the accessories/clothes from a historical viewpoints, kwim? I was always really into history.
Even though I wouldn't have "played" with her, I would l have really liked getting Samantha, if nothing as than as a prompt to learn more about that time in history.

 

[Jdismom]

I just gave my daughter an American Girl doll last week for her 14th birthday. It is her third one. I don't expect her to play with it much, just fix the hair and change the clothes. She was happy to show it to her friends when they came over for her slumber party. In fact, they spent a good amount of time up in her room fixing all her dolls hair and taking silly pictures of them while they talked. Her group of friends might be a little more immature than most 14 year olds, but I think they secretly wish they weren't too old to play with dolls, and I'm glad they're not in such a hurry to grow up.

 

[Tinkertude]

My Mom thought I was too old for a Barbie. Told me if I wanted it I would have to buy it with my own money. She was hardly played with, but she now resides in the safe deposit box, because it was the year Barbie made her debut.

I now buy AG for my dgd. I would buy the doll, but wait until close to her birthday.

 

[cbg1027]

I don't think it's strange. That said, I probably would not buy it.

I was still enjoying my AG dolls somewhat at 13, but I don't think it would have been smart for me to get one for the first time at that age. I stopped playing with them shortly thereafter and they just sat on display for a couple more years until I packed them up.

I just don't feel like your DD will enjoy it for very long before she gets to a stage where she will find it too juvenile, so if I was the parent, I wouldn't want to invest that much money in to it. Plus, if you get her a doll, she will be wanting all the accessories next.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

If she reiterates that as her wish closer to her birthday (eg not just because she was just at the store), I'd absolutely get it. I think kids are pushed into growing up much too soon.

I do think tweens/teens "play" differently with dolls. My almost 11 year old has evolved into making things for the dolls (out of clay, sewing, etc) and doing fancier hairstyles. She also loves making movies about them. It's a great creative outlet for her.

Worst case and you get it/she never plays with it- they have a fabulous resale value.

 

[AndreaDM]

My DD12 "displays" hers but hasn't touched them in about a year or more.

My DD10 will occasionally play with hers - change outfits, etc. - but in spurts and have gone 3-4 months without touching hers sometimes.

Their time for playing with dolls and AG dolls in particular seem over.

However, DD10 still LOVES to play with "toys" like LPS. She builds "villages" with books, cups, board games, nick-naks, etc on our large coffee table and her LPS roams around in the mess. When I tell her to clean up, she complains that she spent HOURS "setting up" and didn't get a chance to play in her village "creation" with her LPS figurines yet.

DD12 has moved onto electronic gadgets like MP3 players and nooks and her new cell phone.

This is exactly like my daughter! Just last night she was using shoeboxes and foam from an electronics box to build a condo for her LPS. She also never wants to clean up her "creations".

Edited to add: OP, if that's what your DD wants, by all means, let her have one. I agree, girls grow up too fast the way it is, I have a teenager and a 21 year old DD so I'm well aware of that fact.

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

mine are actually still displayed in my room at my family's house. granted i haven't lived there in 9 1/2 years

i have/had 6 AG dolls and the baby--pretty much all that was made at the time. i changed them around the holidays to their holiday clothes, then would re-change them after. i kept them all in mint condition... except Samantha--she was my favorite and it showed my dad made a high back bench for them and that's where they sit all together

the dolls are timeless and i think you should get it for her she may not carry it around town--but it's nice to have in your room--even if only displayed.

 

[JAMIESMITH]

My mom bought me a knock off when I was nine or ten because I was very much a tom boy and she thought that I would either not play with the doll much or would destroy her by playing too rough. I never knew the difference. I will say that there is a real AG doll in my closet waiting for Christmas. My daughter is only four, but I really want her to have one of these dolls. They are just so cool!

 

[mercydisney]

DD11 does still play w/them. Her and her BFF will spend a whole day playing. I should mention she has over 23 dolls and countless accs. This yr alone she convinced Grandma she needed another doll and then went out w/her own money and bought Sonali.

DD16 just liked to display them. Never really played with them. She will dress the dolls and display them.

If you DD really wants one I would get it for her as a gift for Christmas or B'day.

 

[Agri]

No. she doesn't have any. She was never into dolls particularly. Even as a little girl she preferred "rescue heroes" to "barbies." She went to the American Girl store with a girlfriend this week and came back begging for a doll. Apparently they spent 2 hours in the store and she loved it.

I didn't like dolls as a kid but I did want an American Girl doll badly. My parents didn't get me one - mostly because my father was a tightwad - but also because I didn't really like dolls much so they thought it would be a waste. The doll I always wanted was Kirsten and so I finally bought her for myself the year they decided to archive her. I now have most of her collection and I will be 30 next year. =p (For those too lazy to do the math, I was 26 when I bought her and I brought her with me to the hospital when my mom had brain surgery.)

To be perfectly honest, these dolls, especially if she wants an historical or girl of the year, are not barbies. Barbies are dolls you play teenager or adult with. An American Girl doll is a GIRL. She comes with a story about how a 9/10/11 year old dealt with situations in the past or present that girls all over can relate to on some level. They also hold their value unlike most other 18" dolls. Even if she loses interest and decides to get rid of her, you can sell the doll on ebay or craigslist for very close to what you spent for it - or even more if she is retired or archived.

At the end of the day, she's your daughter. Someone else might think of toys and dolls as "babyish" when other people might think that holding onto dolls and toys is okay - within reason. I certainly don't think that having my AG doll collection is "babyish" or a waste of money. It brings me joy and pleasure as any hobby should. Enjoying time with toys isn't a sign of a lack of maturity.

I certainly wouldn't consider a child who likes to play with dolls or still likes to sleep with a stuffed animal less mature than a peer who does not. If anything, the child who embraces their desires without fear of prejudice or judgement might be more mature than their peers who are ashamed to admit to things due to peer pressure.

She might hold onto the doll for years and pass it onto her kids or she might tire of it in a year. I'm willing to bet though, that no matter what the length of time is, you will cherish what might be the last moments of child-like play your daughter has before young adulthood really kicks in. =)