would love to hear some thoughts. There's an American Girls store in the Grove in Los Angeles. I always see little girls holding their new dolls around the Grove and I get simultaneously wistful and perplexed at 5 year olds with $100 dolls in their hands that are essentially plastic.
I want to buy out the store for myself, but buying over $1k in dolls is hardly justifiable at my age (21). Instead, I want to buy out the store for my sister when she gets old enough (and my dispoable income is high enough!) but am aware that this is an investment...
My daughter got her first when she was 4, ideally I wanted her to be 6, but there was pressure. I have taken her to the American Girls store here, in Chicago, twice. Both times I really think it was the Moms of the younger girls, under say 7/8, who were most enthusiastic. Moms were swooping up armsful of expensive outfits and accessories, 3 and 4 dolls at once. To be honest my daughter hardly plays with hers anymore...The store was jam packed, we could barely get to the displays in the "museum". As for the American Girls experience, we did the theater at the store. I think she enjoyed that, and as with most things American girl there was a moral and she seemed to grasp the concept. The hair salon at the store was disappointing. We were not able to get reservations for lunch/tea at the resturant and we had called a month in advance. My daughter like the novelty of it, but for now the pretty dolls sit on a self. When we get a new catalog they come briefly back into favor. If I order her something it may be for a little longer. I'm not sure it was worth the "investment"...
I love them and have a few myself (what, give them to my little sis? never!! MAYBE my hypothetical daughter will get them one day...if she's lucky ). I loved them when I got them and took great care of them (but played with them and whatnot- I wouldn't just sit them on the shelf!). I got my first when I was around 7 or so, and I had been reading the books for a while first, so I think that made a difference in my appreciation for them (that and I had been asking for one for forever). I always hated those "modern" ones- I like to play with the more historical ones. I actually loved my doll so much that when I was 8 I saved up my money that I had gotten for my birthday and Christmas and bought my little sister the baby doll for her first birthday. She loved it (and still has it), so my opinion is yeah, they're a good investment. I would suggest starting her off with the books though- to me, that's what differentiates them from other dolls (plus, it makes it educational right? )
. I have taken her to the American Girls store here, in Chicago, twice. Both times I really think it was the Moms of the younger girls, under say 7/8, who were most enthusiastic. Moms were swooping up armsful of expensive outfits and accessories, 3 and 4 dolls at once. To be honest my daughter hardly plays with hers anymore...The store was jam packed, we could barely get to the displays in the "museum".
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