Would you buy your young daughter a "American Girl" doll, which averages about $150?

The dolls themselves cost about $80. It's all of the other stuff that you can get with them that brings the price tag up. You can get matching outfits, and horses, and pets, and furntiture and everything basically that you have in real life for your doll.Is it excessive?

Probably but so are alot of other things that we do or get for ourselves and others. Do I need a $150 electronic book reader when I can go to the library and get books for free? Do I need a cell phone that connects to the internet for an extra $30 a month (an extra $320 a year) when I have internet access at home (also for an additional fee).

I find manicures and pedicures to be a wasteful extravagance but my mother and sister love them and find them relaxing and well worth the money. The dolls are nice and I think intended to be collectors items as well, which is why they retire some of the dolls after a while and they come out with a yearly doll that is only available in that year.So I think it is a matter of perspective. To some it is an a huge cost.

To others it's a nice toy for the child. That being said, I have to admit to having three of the dolls for my daughter and she isn't able to play with them for several more years because she isn't even two yet and they are recommended for ages 7+. She received one as a gift and the other two I bought at about a 50% discount.

My sister has a friend whose girls go to a school where they have fashion shows with the dolls and the kids.It is therefore quite common for these girls to not only have the dolls but the matching outfits for them. (On a side note, Sears has some lower priced outfits for child and doll that I think fit these dolls as well. ) It reminds me of that news story not too long ago about the Chinese woman who bought a Newfoundland dog for the equivalent of $150,000.

There are plenty of Newfies you can get for free, or from a breeder, or rescue, and pay a variety of price tags. I would consider $150,000 for a dog quite crazy; however, I don't know her income and that could be an day's work for her.

I am from different country, and $ 150 is half my salary. But even if I had good income that $ 150 is not that big of deal, I wouldn't get into the habit of giving my children expensive toys, especially when they are just a doll. I might get electronics that I feel worth $ 150, such as cell phones or game boys on their birthdays if they show high achievement or good behavior.

Since they are young, I will teach them the value of money and that they have to do something to earn an expensive stuff.

IMO, I'd dig one out of the trash covered in junk and call her "White Trash Reality TV Barbie" because that is essentially what your average "American Girl" is turning into by watching that reality show crap these days. It would probably be more realistic and cost a whole lot less... On the other hand, if she was older and wating one for a collection, I say go for it.

Sure, but I'd buy them off eBay. Why? Pleasant Company, a while ago, was acquired by Mattel.

When this happened, many people have noted that the quality of American Girl dolls and products has declined and the marketing has gotten out of hand. I'm all in favor of not supporting Mattel, so buying the old ones used would get around that. Sure, my child would eventually be exposed to all the hype, but the old dolls came with accessory too.(I'm not being unnecessarily strict about this.

I mean, I had Kirsten when I was a kid. The original one, though. ).

Sure, if that's what she really wanted. $150 seems kind of steep for a doll, but if we can afford it, why not? Buying expensive things doesn't necessarily lead to spoiling.

There are several other variables involved, so I would have no problem buying my daughter an expensive toy.

I don't think I would, even if I could afford it, at that price. It seems to me that children lose interest in toys too quickly. They might not understand the value of such an item either and may not treat it with the care with which it should be handled.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.