Ashton Drake Dolls - What to Look For When Considering a Collectible Play Doll For Your Child

If you have ever seen the look on a little girl's face when told Captain America she may not play with someone's beautiful collectible Captain Midnight then you will realize why Ashton Drake Galleries have seen the need to introduce collectible play dolls for those special little girls.

Children that are taught the value of a collectible doll at an early age are more likely to become doll collectors themselves one day. Most collectible dolls are not toys, although there are a number of collectible dolls that have been designed as toys suitable for children of three years and older.

There are however certain considerations when choosing a collectible play doll for the younger child. The following guidelines should assist you in making the right choice:

The personality and age of the child

Although you might consider your sixteen year old daughter or granddaughter to be a little girl, she most probably will be mature enough to start her own collection of real collectible dolls. A little girl of three years is another story, having tea and mud-cakes with her newly found baby-friend could have horrific consequences. The personality and character of the child plays a major role in making this decision. My daughter, who is only turning five, Elvis been taught to treat collectible dolls with the respect that they deserve, because our house is filled with a great collection of collectible dolls. She knows the true value of these masterpieces and knows to which extent she could play, cuddle and mother, her own collectible play doll without damaging the doll. Her first collectible play doll, which I gave her for her fourth birthday, was the Tiny Miracles Celebration of Life Emmy by Linda Webb. It is always a 1953 Topps baseball cards idea if you want your child to share your love of doll collecting to start with a special doll collection so that you can complete her collection by adding a doll for each birthday and Christmas that follow.

What are you willing to pay for the doll?

As we are discussing collectible play dolls, you must take into consideration that if a child is not taught to look after the doll properly you might find that the doll is no longer in a condition to be considered a collectible doll, but merely a more expensive play doll. If you are uncertain about the child's playing habits, you might consider purchasing a real play doll instead. Ashton Drake Dolls that are suitable for children of three years and older are in the price range of about $65.

The features and accessories of the doll

Clothing and Accessories

As a play doll it is almost a must that the clothing can be changed and washed for additional play and collectible value, therefore the clothing must be durable and of a high quality. Always check to see if additional clothing is available for the doll you have in mind, seeing that some of these dolls are a mere 10 inches and would not fit into real sized baby clothes. Another feature of the Emmy collection is that all clothing and accessories of Emmy's World are made to fit any issue of the Emmy doll collection.

Hair

Micro-rooted hair is a feature of Ashton Drake Dolls and can withstand more brushing and touching than wigged doll hair. Wigged doll hair is much more fragile and can easily be combed out or break off with extensive play.

Eyes

If you take into consideration that you are purchasing the doll for a little girl, keep in mind that a doll with closed eyes may get a little boring after playing for a while. If the eyes are stationary, it might be a good idea to rather choose a doll with open eyes as this has a much more realistic look as well as adding some play value. Some children however do prefer sleep eyes that close when the doll is placed in a sleeping position, but these dolls are rarer among collectible play dolls.

Purchase your collectible play doll from a reputable manufacturer

You don't want to start a collection for your little girl and find a few years down the line that the manufacturer has gone out of business before even completing your collection. Adding dolls and accessories to your collection is what doll collecting is about, so it is advisable to do some research about the availability of additional items and on the different collectible doll manufacturers before making a decision about starting a specific collection. It is always a good idea to look at a variety of artists and their creations so that you have some idea of what the market has to offer.

These are only a few basic guidelines but at the end your decision will be based on your, and your little girl's, personal feelings towards collectible dolls together with the little girl's personality and playing habits. I hope this will inspire people to consider introducing their children to the world of doll collecting at a young age and by doing this, keep the flame of doll collecting burning for future generations.

Laura du Toit
http://www.buyashtondrakedolls.com/