Whether it makes sense or not, society has assigned toys that are developmentally appropriate for certain ages. I understand why an 8-year-old might get bored with blocks when they loved them when they were 4. Kids want toys that present some kind of challenge or inspiration, and dolls can be a great source of inspiration. You can set up their life, dress them, and put them into harrowing life situations that real people would never fully recover from. There's a reason that all the American Girl Dolls had such tragic backstories. I loved those dolls so much, and I remember being 11 and getting my 2nd and last American Girl Doll, knowing it was the last one. Society decides you're too old for one type of toy, and it's a sad realization.
One mom fiercely defended her 11-year-old daughter's decision to still play with baby dolls, but that didn't stop her aunt from trying to stop her.
This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.
