Whats the normal age for children to stop playing with barbie dolls?

Question

For school i'm doing a project on young children for family life. I wanted to know what age what be considered abnormal for a child (hopefully a girl) to stop playing with barbie dolls?

one of my old friends was still playing with them at age 10 (i havn't spoke to her since) and i always thought that was a bit weird.

so, whats the normal age for kids to stop playing with barbies? what age would be considered "too old"

thanks!

Answer 1

I don't know if there is a "right" age for a girl to stop playing with dolls, however most girls lose interest in Barbie dolls somewhere around 9-10 when they start to make the transition from young child to tween. Although, there is no "too old" to play with dolls, it would be considered a bit abnormal if a girl was 12-13 and still interested in Barbie (and other things that would be considered too young for her) rather than having similar interests to most girls that age. Girls now days stop playing with dolls earlier than they did when I was growing up though, when I was a kid most of the 10 and 11 year olds still had dolls, now days a girl that age might be ridiculed by her classmates for it.

Answer 2

I have 4 daughters. My oldest (now 18) stopped playing with them with her friends when she was about 10. She continued to play Barbies with her younger sisters but would deny it if her friends asked. Each child from there stopped playing with them at a little earlier age. 13 year old stopped around 8, 10 year old stopped around 7, and 8 year old hasn't played with them in a couple of years.



My next door neighbor has an entire bedroom of Barbies and she's in her 60's. They're not in boxes for display either, she changes their clothes and such. No one in the neighborhood considers her 'normal' though.



Growing up, we didn't have Barbies, so I've never been a huge fan. Perhaps if I was, my kids would've stuck with them longer.

Answer 3

I don't believe that it's anything strange. Dolls are an interesting thing to collect–from my limited knowledge on the subject–and a perfectly legitimate type of thing to have an interest in. On the auction circuit today, for example, rare and antique dolls can command prices into the low five figures (look at Sothesby's auctions!!!). This serves to show that dolls are indeed in high demand, and that many collectors take great interest in them. In particular, collectors of dolls often look for unique works, dolls with historical provenance, and the like. So ultimately, don't be ashamed of what you are doing, and just have fun with it!!! I'm sure that if you explore, you'll eventually find some like-minded people who share your interest. Don't worry about how other people judge you, and do what you like to do.

Answer 4

I was 12 years old when I stopped. Even then I still had the urge to play with them but knew I was getting a bit old. Now that I look back, I enjoyed the role play and the domestic fun I'd get out of it----dressing, furniture, etc.

Answer 5

My cousin and I secretly played with our barbies when I was in 6th grade and she was in 8th grade. We knew we were too old so we kept it quiet, but we basically liked to dress them and do their hair, set up their furniture, we didn't make them talk to each other or anything. I don't think there was anything wrong with it, but we would have been mortified if our friends had found out.

Answer 6

I stopped playing with them when i was 8. when i was 10 i knew people who played with them and they got made fun of

Answer 7

I was still interested in them around 12-13, but I realized that other girls were losing interest, and it kind of shamed me out of playing with them anymore.



It might help to know that I was pretty much a loner as a kid (still am), and my toys and hobbies were usually more interesting to me than other people (still are.)

Answer 8

My daughter gave them up last year (10) but she still has the collectible ones. We both decided they were taking up to much room for something that wasn't played with and we donated them to "give to other little girls". It made my daughter feel good to give to other people.

Answer 9

some play untill their 15 and then their are adults who save them up so barbie is for life

Answer 10

I stopped playing with them at 11-12, my daughter who is nine stopped playing with them at six. Now she loves ballet and fashion.

Answer 11

I would say 8 sounds like a good place to stop.

Answer 12

Some sad desperate older men who have never seen a woman naked in real life still play with Barbie dolls. Only these ones have additional "special holes."

Answer 13

9 when i stopped