Can someone explain the doll thing to me?

[annettemarie]

Katie Grace (6) really wants an American Girl doll. Molly, to be exact, even though she's never read the Molly stories. I don't get it. She has lots of dolls, including a beautiful Waldorf doll made by goodwillhunter here on MDC. She plays with them, but it's not obsessive or anything. And now she wants a doll that's going to run almost $100 shipped. I've looked on ebay, but they cost almost as much used as they do new.

I asked her what the big deal was, and she couldn't really articulate it. I asked if it had to be American Girl, and she said yes. I just don't get it.

I guess my problem is two-fold. One, the thought of spending that much money on a toy makes me nauseous. Especially on a mass-produced MIC toy like this doll. Especially when there are so many other better dolls out there, and she actually already has one. My mom is sending Christmas money and is all "get her the doll" but I just don't know if I can

Second, the brand name thing bothers me. But maybe it's inevitable?

Sigh.

[limabean]

I totally get her desire. When I was a kid, Cabbage Patch Dolls were all the rage. Yes, I had plenty of other dolls, but I wanted a Cabbage Patch Doll, and yes, it had to be the Cabbage Patch brand -- nothing else would do. I'd get her the doll.

[Evan&Anna's_Mom]

Chances are her friends are into these dolls. I know that at DS's school most of the girls get one for K or 1st grade Christmas and then have very elaborate playdates with them, and yes, you definitely have to have the "right" type of doll to be included. Because they have such elaborate stories and "stuff", another brand isn't going to fit in.

I agree that I was much happier with this prospect before Mattel bought the brand and they were still independent and much more committed to the ideal doll rather than the dollars. Still, they are well made dolls and last a long time. They have stories with very positive roll models and a high value on "look what girls can do, even in a historical period (for many) where girls were relegated to the home". DH and I thoroughly enjoyed picking out a doll for each of our neices as they reached 7 for a Christmas gift. We are planning on getting DD her's nex year, when she is in K.

[karne]

For us it was a social pressure type of thing-other girls had them, playdates involved them, etc. Grandmother capitulated two years in a row, but personally I don't think they are worth it. I never felt my child "loved" this doll, like her other waldorf/non-waldorf dolls. However, it was VERY important to her.

[annettemarie]

She's homeschooled, and I haven't seen any of the other co-op kids with AG dolls. Someone from ballet had one, but that's not the one she wants.

I get the appeal I guess. Heck, I want Kirsten. But I'm still having a hard time with this. If I could find one used for $50 or so, I'd be all over it, but on ebay they sell almost as much used as new.

[Phantaja]

If you're back on in the next ten minutes, Molly's on ebay for fifty dollars with just about 11 minutes left. http://cgi.ebay.com/AMERICAN-GIRL-MO...QQcmdZViewItem

[limabean]

Originally Posted by annettemarie

If I could find one used for $50 or so, I'd be all over it...

Oh, I see. I thought you just wanted her to have a "good enough" reason for wanting it before you'd consider buying it.

Yes, $100 is a heck of a lot for a doll, and I can see wanting to make sure it's something she'll really use before spending the money.

[annettemarie]

Originally Posted by Phantaja

If you're back on in the next ten minutes, Molly's on ebay for fifty dollars with just about 11 minutes left. http://cgi.ebay.com/AMERICAN-GIRL-MO...QQcmdZViewItem

I was sniping that, but lost.

[beka1977]

How does she know about the dolls?

[annettemarie]

We read the Samantha books as a real-aloud (she found them at the library) and one of them had the little card to send away for the catalog. We were learning about addresses, so I let her fill it out and send it in. That may have been a tactical error on my part.

[Juvysen]

Honestly, this sounds like a great opportunity for her to learn the value of a buck. Maybe she can start doing specific extra chores or something (whatever you work out) and you give her small amounts of money/allowance for it and she can save up for the doll? That's what I would do, but maybe it's because I'm mean I definitely think a doll like that ought to be earned because they'll appreciate and care for it more than they might otherwise.

[amygabrielle]

I had Kirsten growing up and I saved all the stuff that goes with her. I have a chest full of clothes and books (I feel they have strong positive female leads). My Kirsten doll is over 20 years old and has lasted through tons of play. I think it's worth it.

[Linda on the move]

Originally Posted by annettemarie

I guess my problem is two-fold. One, the thought of spending that much money on a toy makes me nauseous. Especially on a mass-produced MIC toy like this doll. Especially when there are so many other better dolls out there, and she actually already has one. My mom is sending Christmas money and is all "get her the doll" but I just don't know if I can

My DDs each have 2 American Girls dolls, as well as numerous accessories, a trunk each, etc.

These are lovely and well made toys. Your mother is paying for it. It is the only thing your child wants.

Lots of toys cost over $100 -- most electronics, wooden horse stable, we have more than $100 worth of brio, etc. I would much rather buy my child 1 thing they really want for Christmas or their birthday that spend $100 on a bunch of little things that will be junk by the next year, or something I think is lovely that they have no interest in. If she takes care of her AG doll, it will hold up well for years and years. (Kit is our oldest AG doll, she is 5 years old this Christmas and still looks great.)

[Datura]

Well, I got a Samantha doll in the first or second year the Pleasant Company started the American Girl line (please no one do the math :P)

I still have her and trunks of clothes, furniture, accessories, etc 20 years down the line. She is absolutely gorgeous, much loved and has aged well. In fact, my son enjoys (supervised!) play with her. They are good toys, even though the Pleasant Company was bought out. They aren't trashy, unwholesome or slutty the way so many girls toys are.

Honestly, I wouldn't hesitate to get an American Girl if I had a girl. Yes they're pricey (I begged for MONTHS to get mine for exactly that reason), but properly cared for they can become an heirloom.

[IfMamaAintHappy]

if it helps, the price of the dolls is the same now as it was when they started the company, or so Ive heard, that helps me, that 80 bucks 25 yrs ago was WAY more expensive than $80 now w/inflation, kwim?

Grace has asked for 2 yrs for the Felicity doll. She is getting it for her 8th birthday, combined gift from us and grandma. She will be saving up for her own accessories.

[cornflake girl]

My dd really wanted one last year and MIL got it for her for Christmas. She really didn't play with it very much and actually ended up giving it to her little sister who also doesn't play with it. It's painful for me to see her naked and neglected with matted up hair knowing how much she cost.

Another thing that I noticed during the brief time dd played with it, is that it seemed to lend itself to very closed ended play. She would basically just act out scenes from the books that we had read. She has Elizabeth so all she ever really did was have the doll drink tea.

[ledzepplon]

I *still* have my Samantha doll and all her clothes from when I was a kid. Back then, they were made by the Pleasant Company, and no one I knew had one. I don't even think they had books with them then--except may be the "Meet So-and-So." So it wasn't a brand name thing. I just loved the historical nature of the dolls, all their wonderful little accessories (although I never had a lot of those), and the beautiful clothes. Yest since she wasn't porcelain, you could actually play with her.

I know it's a chunk of change, but I really treasured mine, and still do to this day. I can hardly wait until my dd is old enough for one!

[Tanibani]

My girlfriend just bought a AG doll at a huge garage sale for $20. gently used!

She also found a baby AG? doll (retails for $75) for about $20. She was thrilled.

[annettemarie]

Thanks all! We're still looking into how to make it happen. If not for Christmas, then maybe her birthday.

The other part of this that I failed to mention is that my son wants some sort of Nintendo hand-held game. I don't even really know what they are. And I feel like it wouldn't be fair to say no to one and yes to the other, even though I'm more strongly against the video game than the doll.

And I know $100 might not seem like a lot to some, but it's a huge amount of money to spend. And we don't really go crazy with Christmas anyway. We buy
Something you want,
Something you need,
Something to wear,
And something you need.

And I had already bought her a watch for something she wanted, LOL!

Anyway, we're still figuring it out. We did talk to her that if she didn't get one for Christmas, at her birthday she could put all her b-day money towards it and we would pay the rest. She usually gets $30-$40 for her birthday, and she'll be seven, which is a special birthday at our house. I'd love to score one at a yard sale!

[MommaGreenBean]

I remember getting the catalog when I was younger too. I didn't play with dolls, but wanted one after I read the books. My mom was right, she said I wouldn't play with it so she wasn't going to buy it. She probably said something like 'I really think that you don't like to play with dolls, so I want you to really think about if you want this as your 'big' present, I think you'd be disappointed' We were in the same boat, when I was that age my mom stayed home and we were tight with money, but my grandparents sent about $100 a year for Christmas for each of us.

She did buy some of the books, or I got them as gifts from other people. I got the catalog for a long time and used to cut out the pictures and make paper dolls and construction paper houses for them. I liked to read and create things, I didn't like to play with dolls, so I think my mom made the right decision.

Even though they're mass produced, they do have nice childish friendly faces. I like that aspect of them. It's nice to hear that they're well made too.

I don't think I really have a point to this