Too Young For This Hobby?

Hello everyone, this topic has always been on my mind. I don't believe anyone has posted this.

 

I'm 14, I like Dollfie Dreams and Resin dolls, I'm saving up to get a Dollfie Dream. I remember once seeing some topic on a website (don't remember, sorry), saying you shouldn't be in this hobby if you're under 16 or something.

 

Now, I think it's possible to own a doll at a young age. I would kinda compare it to, wanting a pet at a young age. It teaches you responsibility and managing money.

 

What do you guys think?

 

(And yes, I know my writing is horrible.. TT___TT)

I started collecting DDs when I was 17.

I saved a lot for over 1 year, and in the end I was able to afford my first girl.

It was a real pain, but it paid me back all the effort: I met a lot of lovely people, I discovered the importance of calculating your own possibilities, and how and when to put myself a stop.

I'd say that 14 is a bit too early, but if it happen you having the possibilities, then why not ^-^

Are you thinking of this? From VolksUSA.

 

Are your products suitable for my child/grandchild/niece/nephew/etc.?

All of our products are intended for adult collectors and hobbyists and are not recommended for anyone under 15 years of age. Some items may have very small parts, complicated body structures, fragile parts, etc. Since they are considered hobby items, much attention is given to modification, painting, etc. and care must be taken as such.

I got into the hobby (knowing of it) when I was 14 and got my fist doll at 16. I think really it depends on the person(child?). you seem to be responsible and ""adult"" not like some children can be very careless. so really if you or anyone feels they can have a doll go ahead. and anyway if the kid brakes the doll or is careless then its up to them there the once loosing out. and if there parents buy them the doll ( like my mum did for me) then yes the kid should be careful like anyone is with a expensive gift.

Nekopon

 

I think that was one of the websites.

 

 

Error-Chan

 

 

Thank you, whenever I receive a figure in the mail, I always be careful with it. Money should be used wisely on something you spend a lot on.

I think pursuing passions is a very healthy way to live your life! :> I've met a family where the youngest two kids had resin dolls-- I think one of the kids was four-years-old, and the other was six-years-old. The way the four-year-old gently carried her MSD-sized resin doll and tidied up its wig was probably better than some adults treat their dolls (admittedly, I'm probably rougher with my dolls than she was since I don't have a parent that is judging my responsibility based off of an object). Fostering passion and growing your interest in what makes you feel engaged with your world is what life is about, right? Go for it!

It depends more on the person than anything. There are "children" who I would trust more with my girls than some "adults".

My bestie's little sister has had bjds for the past 3 years or so she's 11 ish now. She got her first DD last year and wants a DDDY. It depends on the collector. If you're into it you'll take care of it, if you're not you won't. Age doesn't mean a thing, imo.

Doubtfull that a 14year old person would chock on a dollfie hand...Well,what make a person eat a +20$ hand at first place..But I think if a young person who save up an entire year for a dollfie. She/He would treat it with care (like the OP said as a pet)

 

 

Producer of merchandise tend to have to put certain rules into their products to avoid lawsuits.

Currently,I have those new turtle movies merchandise at my office. And if I read all their disclamer,it's just too funny to name it. I mean, choke hazard on a blanket of 2 meter on 1.60meter? Cmon...

My bestie's little sister has had bjds for the past 3 years or so she's 11 ish now. She got her first DD last year and wants a DDDY. It depends on the collector. If you're into it you'll take care of it, if you're not you won't. Age doesn't mean a thing, imo.

 

 

I totally agree with the above! Age is just a number. It all depends on the individual. I'd let Ebels little sister handle ANY of my girls.... she's always super careful with her DD and she really enjoys seeing others girls. I've rarely seen such a young girl take such good care of ANYTHING.

 

So as long as you feel like you can handle a DD and will do your best to treat her well, I don't see any issues at all with your age limiting you.

 

 

 

Billy

I love chien's story about the 4 and 6 y.o.

 

I would say 10 is a good age to start, looking and planning and attending meets to work out what you like and dont like about certain dolls so that when you have the money you know exactly what you want in YOUR doll. The only down side is that you would need to be respectful, gentle and ask owners at meets to touch or hold dolls (this is a given even for older people but as a child/teen, doll owners will worry more :p)

 

i also believe its more a matter of how you were bought up to respect your property and the property of others. As long as the child/teenager is aware of how to care properly for the doll, done lots of research and even paying for it by earning money or pocket money from chores theyll be pretty good with a doll.

 

And of course you also need to factor in if the child/teen is from a dolly lineage. From a young age they would have been seeing how to care and play with resins and dollfies so its possible that a 4, 5 or even 6.y.o would do well with a doll! ^-^

 

End blah/

I feel as though age is just a number when it comes to hobbies. Although it definitely makes it harder to save up when you're young. When I wanted to get my first BJD I was 15 and nobody wanted to hire a 15 year old

At age 14 you can definitely get a DD if that is really what you want. When I was 14 I would save up and drop $500 on electronics. At least at 14 you don't have a credit card or paypal account so hard to get addicted to the DD hobby.

Wow, thank you guys for your opinions.

 

I too believe it's the character of the person, not the age. I thought of this topic because of my sister. I told my mother I like Dollfie Dreams, she was there and said, "Aren't you too young for this? It says you can only have this when you're 15." But, my mother did point out I took good care of my figures. (OFF TOPIC) *I'm so excited for Figma Mikasa to arrive!! (^.^)*

 

(ON TOPIC)

 

I've actually been saving my money for my first Dollfie, so many choices... @__@ Though I set my mind on one special Dollfie. C:

I've definitely know how to manage money, tough, but I know it'll be worth it.

take this advice frome please, i should know a thing or two about this situation:

 

tou arent to young imo, i was interested in having a bjd sice i was 12, i am fourteen now and i have one DD, it takes a while, like a year and a half to get enough funds to get a girl,

but it is SO worth while, its just a hobby, it souldn't be juged by the age/sex of the person caring for something, if you care about it, like other useres have stated before, you'll take great care of it, when you do get a girl, you will love it if you are interested in this hobby, i promise you it is so much fun, if you go to cons, you will meet sevral people either wanting one,knowing of them, or people who have alot

i went to a small con thinking that nobody with dolls were going to be ther, little did i know two people with a bunch of resins wanted to hang out with me and i ended up hosting a panel with them

so yes i ramble but i had to get in on this topic,

much love and good luck,

 

troy

I have two dolls (custom MH and resin Yo-SD) and I'm just getting into Highschool. I would've got my first one probably three years ago if I had the money or guts! The only problem I can see with being in the hobby so young is money. Most people under 16 or 17 aren't likely to get a job or have substantial money. The only time I have money for my girls is after my birthday or Christmas, and that's only if I don't spend it on other things (I'm also a Lolita and I own a horse).

I‘m 25 years old now，I started the hobby when I was 20. But when I was a student Dollfie Dream is too expensive for me. So I got my first DD when I was 22 and had my first job.

The only problem I can see with being in the hobby so young is money. Most people under 16 or 17 aren't likely to get a job or have substantial money. The only time I have money for my girls is after my birthday or Christmas,

 

That is true. Luckily, I do have an opportunity to get a job next year. C:

 

 

But when I was a student Dollfie Dream is too expensive for me.

 

Yep, (TT_TT) It's tough to earn money, but it'll be worth it in the end.

I think age doesn't matter, it all depends on the owner/collector if he/she knows how to take care of the doll. Preferably the age 16 is already going to the matured state of mind. I started collecting Pullip first when I was 16 and then moved to DDs at the age of 18 :3

I got my first BJD (BJDs came way before DDs for me) when I was fourteen. He wasn't small or cheap like most of the BJDs people tend to get at first, either. I decided that since it was something extremely dear and important to me, I was going to save up and be patient and get the one I really wanted, and I did. I still have him now, and I will for the rest of my life. (He's a Crobidoll Nao by the way.) Since then, I have gotten my other two BJDs and my DD. It just depends on the individual; certain people will be ready for big responsibilities at a younger age while it might take other people until they get much older to be able to handle it. (If ever, even.) And it's important to remember that no matter how responsible you are, everyone has accidents and makes mistakes, so don't beat yourself up if you're trying to be responsible and accidentally do something stupid. It happens to everyone. (Myself included. xD)

 

If you know that you're responsible and careful, then just ignore what other people say! ٩(•౪•٩)

it all depends on the owner/collector if he/she knows how to take care of the doll.

 

I agree.

 

I got my first BJD (BJDs came way before DDs for me) when I was fourteen. He wasn't small or cheap like most of the BJDs people tend to get at first, either. I decided that since it was something extremely dear and important to me, I was going to save up and be patient and get the one I really wanted, and I did. I still have him now, and I will for the rest of my life. (He's a Crobidoll Nao by the way.) Since then, I have gotten my other two BJDs and my DD. It just depends on the individual; certain people will be ready for big responsibilities at a younger age while it might take other people until they get much older to be able to handle it. (If ever, even.) And it's important to remember that no matter how responsible you are, everyone has accidents and makes mistakes, so don't beat yourself up if you're trying to be responsible and accidentally do something stupid. It happens to everyone. (Myself included. xD)

 

If you know that you're responsible and careful, then just ignore what other people say! ٩(•౪•٩)

 

I really like your story about your doll, it's cute!

I'll have to try to deal with the mistakes I make to my doll, though it will hurt my heart. A LOT.

(^__^)

Aww, just do your best and try not to be too hard on yourself!

I would say that the majority of 14 year olds (who don't have parents or other close family members that already in the hobby) aren't mature enough for this hobby. That doesn't mean that there aren't exceptions, of course. If someone that young is really dedicated enough to save up THAT MUCH money and does the proper research to care for the doll so they don't screw it up as soon as they get it, then I'd say they fall into the 'exception' category. I think what really annoys older collectors is when they see some kid with an expensive doll that was bought for them by their parents that they don't appreciate as much as someone who'd had to save up for ages, or worked hard at their job to pay for.

 

In any case, if you're the kind of 14 year old that's saving up their own money and doing all their homework before getting a doll, then you're ok by me!

Doubtfull that a 14year old person would chock on a dollfie hand...Well,what make a person eat a +20$ hand at first place..

 

This really cracked me up. I think the person who would do that is just a new level of stupid.

 

As others have said, it really is about a level of responsibility (and dedication) rather than magically acquiring some previously unknown info or talent the moment someone turns 15... (Reminds me of the Sims aging up in a swirling cloud of glitter and lights ) In contrast, I've heard the invalid argument that I was too old for dolls since I was about 8 or so, and in my own way I told them to stuff it. I'm 35 now and have come to discover that dolls are not optional for me to function on a daily level, just like most of the rest of the world seems to crave daily social interaction. Or kids.

 

In short, if you love it, do it. Along the way you'll learn a lot more about yourself as you learn to appreciate the little things, even if they may fall outside the realm of what others conciser normal. To quote my husband (Ravendruid) from many years ago: I like you. You're not normal. Normal people are boring.

 

~Sister Kyoya

I agree with pretty much everyone here that it's absolutely about personal maturity and not about age. If you can handle the patience and cognizance to save up enough for one, and take good enough care of your stuff to know that you're not likely to damage her, then you're old enough. Case on that: closed.

 

That said, this does remind me of a few horror stories I've found on Den of Angels, so I feel I should probably toss this out there: You may be mature enough to handle an expensive collector's items, but some of your friends might not be. Just use discretion in which friends you let handle your new vinyl family member, yeah? Might want to put her in a cabinet or on a high shelf when untested and/or rowdy friends come by, at least until you know their mettle.