Posted in My Kids

You have probably figured out by now that my daughter and I are big fans of American Girl dolls.  Every time I mention the American Girl dolls on my blog I get emails telling me that Target has a version of the dolls that are MUCH cheaper.  While it is true that Target carries dolls that are the same size, the things my daughter and I love about the American Girl dolls is the History that goes along with them.  You see each American Girl doll comes from a different period of History.  Felicity, the doll my daughter got for Christmas is from the Colonial American period. (1774 in Williamsburg, VA). 

Since Christmas she has had all of the books in Felicity's series read to her.  These books have made History literally come alive for my daughter!  She is now interested in fashion from that period, horses, how people lived during that time. She is curious about the Revolutionary War  She talks about the difference between life then and now like she has lived in both periods.  She is now interested in reading anything and everything we can find about the Revolutionary War. (Revolutionary War on Wednesday and If You Lived in the Time of The American Revolution are next on our list to read.)  I am also working over in my mind the idea of an American Girl Lapbook!  (Yeah, I know you can buy them, but of course we want to design our own! LOL)

So. yes I know the dolls are expensive.  I certainly don't plan on buying them all for her!  But, if she wants to ask for them for Christmas and birthdays and save up her own money for them I am all for it!  We do have most of the books for all the dolls.  I will happily pay full price for any we don't find used.  If this series of books and dolls make History come alive for my daughter I am all for them!  Just like I played with potato cannons and made revolutionary costumes for my older son to make American History come alive for him!  LOL

So why I am sure there is much fun to be had playing with the dolls from Target, we will stick with American Girl.  I hope someday my daughter can use the American Girl products she is growing up with to teach her daughter about American History.

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Posted by Anonymous

I couldn't possibly even if I wanted to-which I do-fork over the money for an American Doll so I bought a generic brand from A.C.Moore with a %40 off coupon for my 4 year old. I have to say-there are times when cheaper is not always better. Her doll's hair is nappy and ugly with play now and in all honesty-the hair didn't start out that great anyhow.

American Girl dolls have a VAST improvement on hair. It doesn't get so messed up so quickly. It is a more full set of hair-and for a minimal fee you can FIX it, whereas I would have to buy a whole new doll!

Just wanted to encourage you not to feel bad or guilty because you spent a bit more, it was actually a better, more wise decision on your part. Trust me. I know! :-)

I can't leave without letting you know, in case you were interested, that I sell American Girl doll prairie bonnets AND little girl bonnets, and can custom order matching ones for a girl and her doll in my Etsy shoppe. Right now I have one of each, for a girl and a doll in my shoppe-but they are not matching. My etsy is http://sgrbear724.etsy.com/ in case you want to check them out.

Absolutely NO pressure.

PS. I love the "historical" dolls of AG too. That is WHY I love them so much. The dolls at Target and A.C.Moore are very trendy and finding a dress or skirt is like trying to squeeze into last years jeans... ;-)

Rebecca from www.zeahrenaissance.blogspot.com

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Posted by Anonymous

Ditto on the AG dolls. My oldest has had the entire set of books for a few years now and just last year she got her first AG doll for her birthday. This year at a christmas craft sale I found a little coat and hat that looks just like the one Samantha wears for $7.00. She loves it. Her doll is a 1 year doll (Jess) because it looks the most like her. The great thing about this doll is that her dad is an archeologist and they travel the world and she is homeschooled. Not only that she is half asain and half Irish. My girls are 1/4 korean and a mix of lots of other things. I thought that was really neat. My middle child is getting Molly in a week and a half for her 9th birthday. I would say the one thing I do differently is wait unitl they are a bit older so I know they will be taken well care of. I tried the Target dolls and they do end up a mess and in fact I don't think we have any of them left.
Susan

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Posted by Christina Puntigam

You mentioned finding used books. I'm curious if you know about www.paperbackswap.com My friends all love it. I would use it, but I love my books too much to part with them :)


www.cdpluvsjtp.blogspot.com

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Posted by SeekingJESUSnTeachingKIDS

I see them at the thrift store I go to - a lot. I have so many I don't even pick them up anymore. Soft cover are 25 cents and hard are 50 cents. I will pick them up for you if you want and you can just send me the shipping money. Media mail is pretty cheap. Just let me know:)
:>Michelle

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Posted by Elinor

Hi! I haven't been to your blog in a while so I thought I'd stop by...hope you're doing well.

We too LOVE the American Girl dolls...and I agree that there are no substitutes for them. It's not 'just' the doll itself we're crazy over (if that was the case we'd get those cheap imitations!), it's the whole experience regarding the doll and the history behind her! We have collected 7 dolls (so far) and we play with each and every one of them!!! The store in NYC is just amazing.

We began an American Girl Tea club this past year and it's been the best thing we've done. We have 6 girls and their moms (one mom has 2 girls, so there's 11 of us total) to our home for tea once a month and we feature one doll each time. Actually...just pop in to my site here: (http://elinorandedward.blogspot.com/search/label/American%20Girls) and you can read what I wrote. It may be something you could start in your own home. I will try to make another post with better photos and more details for you. I've had other moms ask too. The history is so much fun and the girls absolutely love dressing up and making crafts etc. Us moms really enjoy the fellowship with one another, but also spending quality time with our girls is wonderful!

Have a blessed week!
Elinor
http://elinorandedward.blogspot.com

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Posted by MyDarlin

Hi, just wondering why my post was deleted? It was here after posting, and now it's gone. Sure would like to know why?

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