4Real Forums: What age? AG dolls or Vision Forum?

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Topic: What age? AG dolls or Vision Forum?

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SuzanneG
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Posted: Dec 05 2006 at 6:09pm \| IP Logged

I am wondering about what age the American Girl dolls and Vision Forum dolls are for? My 5 1/2 year old saw a couple dolls and catalogue at someone's house and has been talking about them ever since. Is she (and my 4-year-old) too young to appreciate this sort of doll, since the history aspect of it is a bit lost on this age?

The boycott is over for the AG dolls, right? I remember this from last year, but wasn't paying much attention then. Are they doing anything "wierd" anymore?

Many of the AG 4real threads are from last year, searching for alternatives....
Beautiful Girlhood?
Magic Cabin?
Would any of you recommend anything OVER the AG dolls after buying some of the alternatives?

Thanks,
Suzanne in WA
mom to 4 girls - ages 5,4,3,9 months

kjohnson
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Posted: Dec 05 2006 at 6:25pm \| IP Logged

My daughter got her first AG doll when she was 5. She loved the doll and grew into it. As soon as she was able she began reading the books and has been collecting the dolls ever since. That's been 6 years.

I don't have any info on the boycott. I think I was out of the loop on that one. For Christmas I just ordered Samantha for my 8 year old and a Bitty Baby for my 3 year old...oh well, what can you do?

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Katherine
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ladybugs
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Posted: Dec 05 2006 at 6:27pm \| IP Logged

Suzanne,

Last year, when my daughter Juliana turned 8, she wanted a doll desperately. We were recovering from a couple of lay-offs and could not afford much but we did manage to get her a Cabbage Patch doll. She loves it!

This Christmas, my in-laws are indeed getting her the Elizabeth American Girl doll - that is an answer to prayer as we still could not afford one! They also purchased Felicity for my Sophia who just turned 7 so it will be really neat for me to see them play together with the dolls - I can't wait, really!

Just an idea from my neck-of-the-woods!

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ladybugs
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Posted: Dec 05 2006 at 6:28pm \| IP Logged

As far as I know, the boycott is over, too.

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Bridget
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Posted: Dec 05 2006 at 6:43pm \| IP Logged

I like the quality of the Vision Forum dolls better. My 5 year old is getting one because she likes her older sisters dolls so much... or maybe I just couldn't wait to get another one.

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kjohnson
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Posted: Dec 05 2006 at 6:51pm \| IP Logged

I don't want to ask (because we're doll crazy around here) but what are Vision Forum dolls?

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Katherine
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Bridget
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Posted: Dec 05 2006 at 6:54pm \| IP Logged

Vision Forum Dolls

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Carole N.
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Posted: Dec 05 2006 at 9:47pm \| IP Logged

My dd received Felicity for her 10th birthday (which is kind of cool because the AG dolls turn 10 in one of the books in the series). Later we took a trip to the American Girl Place in Chicago with some other moms and daughters that live in the area. It was a wonderful experience.

When dd was younger, she received the Bitty Twins for Christmas. Although we boycotted AG last year, we love the dolls and the books. But the boycott is over--it ended early in the year. So you can shop there this year with a clear conscience.

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teachingmom
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Virginia Bluebells

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Posted: Dec 05 2006 at 11:36pm \| IP Logged

My oldest two girls received their AG dolls for the Christmas when they were 7 and 5. Our next two girls received an AG doll for their 5th birthdays. I think 5 is a good minimum age, but would wait until older if the girls are not yet familiar with the books.

My older two girls were introduced to the AG books first, so they really wanted the dolls by the time they received them. The next two received a doll before they had read any of the books or knew the AG stories. They don't seem to have the same love for their dolls that the older two had.

I haven't seen the Vision Forum dolls in person, but I highly recommend the AG dolls.

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graciefaith
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Posted: Dec 06 2006 at 1:55am \| IP Logged

What age range are the books?

Cay Gibson
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Posted: Dec 06 2006 at 8:54am \| IP Logged

My four yr old gets her first AG doll this year.
Of course, she turns 5 on the 20th.

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Carole N.
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Posted: Dec 06 2006 at 9:18am \| IP Logged

My dd read the books when she was 8/9. I think that they could read them earlier. The books are about AG that turn 10 during the series of books.

Before she read the books, she was not really interested in the dolls, but after she read them, she knew which doll she wanted. And when she studies history, she relates the books to real events in our history. It made history so much more fun for her (and for me)!

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Carole ... in Wales

Bookswithtea
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Posted: Dec 06 2006 at 2:07pm \| IP Logged

We have both AG and VF dolls. I like the Vision Forum dolls better. The clothes are just beautiful, and I think after a year of vigorous use, the VF doll's hair is in better condition than the AG doll's hair. I showed my dd's (I have 3) the VF catalogue recently for the first time and my oldest (who is 9) commented, "Wow mom, the clothes in this catalogue are so much more modest than in the AG catalogue."

We get Bitty babies for our girls when they are around 2 or 3 and the AG or VF dolls when they are 6. Its a family tradition. Each will only have one doll, but we have lots of different period costumes as well as more modern clothing. We don't collect the furniture as we just don't have the storage space for it, but each girl has a doll case with drawers and a place to hang clothes.

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SuzanneG
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Posted: Dec 06 2006 at 10:01pm \| IP Logged

Thanks for all your feedback!

OK, so I'm seeing the age of 5-6 as an age where a lot of your girls have them. Which explains the new-found past-time in our house.....perusing the catalogues and making up stories and names about them.

Good points about introducing the books/stories to them before the dolls; I hadn't thought of that. We started reading Kirstin's Surprise last week for St. Lucy's Day and my 5 and 4-year-old love it. Plus, I'm from Minn. and my whole family lives there, so it's especially fun.

When I first heard about these dolls (before being married) I remember thinking "what an extravagance! why would you pay that for a DOLL? What's the big deal?" But, I am drawn to them now that my girls are interested....the stories, the beautiful doll, the living history, imagining, the innocence of girls loving their dolls, the clothing. It just seems so "worthwhile." Certainly not NECESSARY, but wonderful if it's possible.

Since both dolls are 18"....will clothes from both companies fit both dolls?

From the website, it doesn't look like the VF dolls have the same STORIES/books associated with each doll. Is that correct, all you VF-doll-moms? (maybe I'm missing something....their website isn't clear on this).

Thanks.

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Suzanne in ID
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SuzanneG
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Posted: Dec 06 2006 at 10:03pm \| IP Logged

kjohnson wrote:

I don't want to ask (because we're doll crazy around here)

Katherine:
I'm just curious. Were you crazy about dolls as a little girl? Or just because your daughter/s are interested?

I don't remember LOVING dolls as much as my girls do, (and neither does my mom, so she's no help) so I'm just curious.

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Suzanne in ID
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Bridget
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Posted: Dec 06 2006 at 10:08pm \| IP Logged

suzgallus wrote:

Since both dolls are 18"....will clothes from both companies fit both dolls?

From the website, it doesn't look like the VF dolls have the same STORIES/books associated with each doll. Is that correct, all you VF-doll-moms? (maybe I'm missing something....their website isn't clear on this).

Thanks.

The outfits fit both dolls. My girls interchange them all the time.

The VF books are specific to an outfit but not a doll. Any of their dolls, or any of the AG dolls, could wear a VF outfit and enjoy the story that goes with it.

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teachingmom
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Virginia Bluebells

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Posted: Dec 06 2006 at 11:55pm \| IP Logged

suzgallus wrote:

When I first heard about these dolls (before being married) I remember thinking "what an extravagance! why would you pay that for a DOLL? What's the big deal?" But, I am drawn to them now that my girls are interested....the stories, the beautiful doll, the living history, imagining, the innocence of girls loving their dolls, the clothing. It just seems so "worthwhile." Certainly not NECESSARY, but wonderful if it's possible.

I completely agree. I first heard about the AG dolls around the time I got married when a friend gave one as a gift to her dd. I couldn't imagine spending close to $100 for a doll! Normally our budget doesn't allow for gifts anywhere near that expensive. But we made an exception for the AG dolls. And if I were to divide the price by the hours spent playing with them, I'd have to say that they are the best deal out of just about all of our toys.

And I'm sure that would be true no matter which type of doll you chose in the end.

suzgallus wrote:

I know you were asking Katherine this, but I have to chime in because I think it's an interesting question. I don't remember being into dolls at all after age 5 or so. I love them now and am enjoying having the excuse of all these daughters for collecting dolls now!

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Mrs.K
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Posted: Dec 07 2006 at 1:15pm \| IP Logged

My eldest dd has an AG doll, but my other girls have Goetz 18in dolls that we have been very pleased with. They are very pretty and have longer hair and a nicer skin tone than the AG doll, and they are about half the price. You can look around ebay for doll sellers (lots of Buy it Now new items) that carry them. But my girls have wanted the contemporary dolls, not the historical ones, so that might affect your decision.
I second the Bitty Baby at 2 and an 18" girl doll at 5 or 6 plan.
OTH, we're already plotting to eventually get the AG Kaya and dress her as Kateri Tekakwitha who is my 7 mo dd's namesake.

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SuzanneG
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Posted: Dec 12 2006 at 2:26am \| IP Logged

teachingmom wrote:

I don't remember being into dolls at all after age 5 or so. I love them now and am enjoying having the excuse of all these daughters for collecting dolls now!

Yeah, me too! Glad to know I'm not the only mom out there thinking about these dolls! It's kind of fun.

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Suzanne in ID
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Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)

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