How old is too old for an American Girl doll?

[Anonymous]

DD will be 10 next week. She says she wants an AG doll. Do you think 10 is too old? Should I just get a knock-off one at Target?

[Anonymous]

I know things are different now but I played with dolls until I was 12, and then (shhhh!) occasionally Barbies until 14. I don't know if I'd spend the money on a real AG doll b/c the interest may be short lived. Will she know the difference if you get a knock off?

[Anonymous]

If she wants one then she isn't too old.

[Anonymous]

Does she play with other dolls at home? My DD will be 10 in February and takes her AG doll on sleepovers, but got it when she was 8. Honestly, I used to have this "You STILL play with DOLLS?!" attitude, and then realized the longer they're playing with dolls the less time they're futzing over makeup and boys and malls, etc. So I support doll play.

[Anonymous]

I love that. I hope my daughter still plays with dolls when she's 10.

I remember that when I was in 5th grade, a girl I was friends with told me, in a mocking voice, that some other girl she knew still played with dolls. I remember turning beet-red because I totally played with dolls and did until Jr high, probably.

[Anonymous]

My parents gave me one when I was 13, and I still appreciated it (although not as much as the one I got when I was 9). I definitely didn't "play" with it the way I did when I was younger, but it was fun looking through the catalogs and picking out clothes and accessories (even if we didn't buy any) and I was pretty into the historical aspect of them. I don't think 10 is too old.

[Anonymous]

10 is not too old. my dd is 9 and all the girls still play with them. Get your dd the real am. Girl doll, not the knock off. She would be disappointed.

[Anonymous]

Funny -- my soon to be 13 yr old wants one! And never wanted even one doll before. I'm tempted to give it to her just because of that.

[Anonymous]

My daughter is 10.5 and has been into them for at least 5 years. She is getting Caroline for Christmas (and that is her name as well!). She shows no signs of tiring of them. I'd much rather that than those trampy Bratz dolls, that's for sure.

Do NOT get "knockoffs" -- they are nowhere near the same as AG dolls!

[Anonymous]

My mom was heartbroken when I wanted to return AG stuff. Age 11. Now I am thinking about getting Grace

[Anonymous]

I bought DD one when she was 10. She is now 11 and still enjoys playing with it. Her friend brings hers when she comes over and they do the dolls hair.

[Anonymous]

If she wants one, get it for her. My dd started playing with them when she was in first grade, but has since moved on to Barbie. She may get the desire to play with them again...who knows. I often see "older" girls at the AG store with their dolls. I agree with pp, I would rather see girls playing with dolls than make-up.

[Anonymous]

If she wants to play with dolls then she is not too old.

[Anonymous]

I would find out why does she wants it. My older (in HS now) never had one and never asked for one. Younger daughter never was a doll player, however, when she was 8 we had several friends who's kids had like 8-10 AG dolls with all the closing, bedding, closets, puppies, you name it. So my daughter really bagged for it and got it as a Christmas present two years ago, and then she purchased another doll with the money that she got as a Christmas gifts from ILs. Then we inherited full wardrobe with bed, puppies, etc. from the family who's daughter is in HS. The reality is that she wanted it because her friends had it. A year later, everything is sitting in a box and she barely look at it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would find out why does she wants it. My older (in HS now) never had one and never asked for one. Younger daughter never was a doll player, however, when she was 8 we had several friends who's kids had like 8-10 AG dolls with all the closing, bedding, closets, puppies, you name it. So my daughter really bagged for it and got it as a Christmas present two years ago, and then she purchased another doll with the money that she got as a Christmas gifts from ILs. Then we inherited full wardrobe with bed, puppies, etc. from the family who's daughter is in HS. The reality is that she wanted it because her friends had it. A year later, everything is sitting in a box and she barely look at it.

Same scenario at our house but I am still glad we purchased. My DD is 11 and still enjoys fixing their hair and occasionally will create new outfits for them but that's about it. We will store them away so she can keep them for her future kids.