Barbies are one of the most popular toy ever made, they have been out since before most of us were even born. I agree that every girl needs to have a few barbies. But at what age do we introduce these Barbies into our daughter's lives? I don't think that any little girl under the age of ten needs to have a barbie doll. What would be the point?
Not only do you have the Barbies, but you have accessories and clothing, as well as vehicles and houses, you name it, Barbie comes with it. Though your child may enjoy playing with the barbie at any age, she doesn't need to have any of the accessories until she is old enough to keep track of them, to not lose any of them or leave them in places that they can get destroyed or just be in the way.
We have to look at Barbie dolls just like we do every other gift for our children. Do we think that our child is old enough to play with this toy or that toy? Are the toys too advanced for them? Would they take good care of these toys or just break the or lose them in a week? These are questions that we ask any time that we purchase a toy for one of your loved ones.
So why should it be any different with Barbie dolls. I don't think that it should. I think that there should be an age limit put onto these dolls just like any other toy. Barbie's come with small pieces that could become choking hazards for not only the child playing with them, but any other child or sibling that comes around the said barbies.
I, for one, have a four year old little girl, she does love Barbies already and I have had several family members tell me that I should be buying them for her or ask me if they can. My answer, no, she isn't old enough yet and won't be for a while. She still can't keep track of half her toys so why would I bring Barbies into the picture. Sure I remember playing with them all the time when we were kids, it was one of our favorite toys.
I also remember not getting any until we were well old enough to know how to take care of them first. We knew to keep all clothing and shoes and any other accessories for our barbies put up for safe keeping when we weren't using them. We knew that we just couldn't leave that stuff laying around because then we would never find it anymore. So why would I bring them into my house so that my child could make a mess and just lose it all the first day. I know better.
So my thoughts on the matter. Do not give your child a Barbie doll until she is ten years old or you know that she is responsible enough to take care of her toys and not lose any of them.