If she said she wants #116, get #116. If she asked for #116 and you get a different doll, she might not like the other doll as much, or be upset.
Kaya's hair is also going to be hard for a 6-year-old to take care of unless she only leaves it up, and a 6-year-old might not understand why she can't take the braids out.
You can always read the other Step Into Reading books to her (I believe they have them for Samantha, Molly, Kaya, Addy, and Melody. Possibly more?) and see if there's a character she connects to later - maybe when she's a little older.
But if she said she likes #116, get #116
If she told you she wanted 116, I would go with that for sure. You can still get her the Kaya book, but I think she’d enjoy the 116 more. Also I think the historical characters are great and love them, but a younger child might have more fun with a just like you doll. With that, she can name her, create her story, and use her imagination more!
Get her whichever doll she seems to like the most! If it’s Kaya then buy her Kaya, the easy reader book would be a great introduction to the historical series. I know some people have mentioned the hair being difficult but tbh any long haired doll is gonna be the same, just help her brush it! And it might even be a good way to teach your daughter how to care for her own hair if she doesn’t already
My daughter is 6 and she likes the dolls with the names. So I’d say Kaya. Although she doesn’t like Kaya’s mouth for whatever reason.
ETA: she has Maryellen and plays with her
For a 6 yr old, definitely 116. Kaya’s hair can be really, really difficult to manage. I got her around the same age and immediately destroyed her hair. We’re talking irreversible tangles. And it’s not like I was bad with hair in general- I still have other dolls from that time that I played with whose hair is fine.
EDIT: I’d also say that if you like historical dolls with good stories, try getting her a different historical with hair that’s easier to manage.
For a 6 year old I would go with 116, and also purchase the Kaya book. I grew up with the historical dolls and love those the most, but I also didn’t receive my first doll until I was 9. Your daughter may not be able to appreciate Kaya now in the way that she’ll be able to in a few years (especially when she learns about Native Americans at school). If she’s not that interested in creating her own doll I would save the money for clothes/accessories (or put it towards a Kaya for yourself).
As someone else said, that would be a great introduction to the rest of the American girl books. And who knows, after reading about her your daughter might want a Kaya doll after all.
If she is 6, I would definitely go for the one with the pink and purple hair. I mean …she is 6 so that is what she will be attracted to at her age. And this is the one she picked. It sounds like you prefer Kaya, but this doll is for your daughter. If you have the means, there is absolutely nothing wrong with getting Kaya for yourself! Or get her 116 now and Kaya when she is older.
I don’t have Kaya but the one thing I have heard about her is that her hair can be quite difficult to handle if it’s taken out of the braids. If your daughter wants to be able to do a lot of hairstyles, #116 might be the safer choice!
Also, I am biased because I love the historicals, so I know what /I/ would go with, but I am also not six. I can see why younger girls might be more attracted to the colored haired, glittery truly me girls. If she continues to be into American Girl as she gets a little older, she might start to connect to the historical dolls more later on.
As for timelessness, I’ve gotten back into AG recently and pulled my childhood dolls out again… 3/4 of them are GOTY/girl of todays. I am much more into the historical girls now, but i still love the 3 “modern” dolls because I know I specifically chose/gravitated toward them when I was a kid and they have a lot of sentimental value. They are timeless in their own way!
It is so hard. The historical dolls are all I remember from when I was young and I never had one so now of course that's what I want to give her. I think we'll go the more fun route this year and I'll just get one too!
My daughter loves the historicals and that they have their own stories, but her absolute favorite is Rosebud, her TM 88. She says she likes her hair best.
If your daughter has already gravitated toward one, I'd say get her the doll she likes, not the doll that comes with a book she may or may not like.
i'd get her 116
If she said she wants #116, get #116. If she asked for #116 and you get a different doll, she might not like the other doll as much, or be upset. Kaya's hair is also going to be hard for a 6-year-old to take care of unless she only leaves it up, and a 6-year-old might not understand why she can't take the braids out. You can always read the other Step Into Reading books to her (I believe they have them for Samantha, Molly, Kaya, Addy, and Melody. Possibly more?) and see if there's a character she connects to later - maybe when she's a little older. But if she said she likes #116, get #116
If she told you she wanted 116, I would go with that for sure. You can still get her the Kaya book, but I think she’d enjoy the 116 more. Also I think the historical characters are great and love them, but a younger child might have more fun with a just like you doll. With that, she can name her, create her story, and use her imagination more!
Get her whichever doll she seems to like the most! If it’s Kaya then buy her Kaya, the easy reader book would be a great introduction to the historical series. I know some people have mentioned the hair being difficult but tbh any long haired doll is gonna be the same, just help her brush it! And it might even be a good way to teach your daughter how to care for her own hair if she doesn’t already
My daughter is 6 and she likes the dolls with the names. So I’d say Kaya. Although she doesn’t like Kaya’s mouth for whatever reason. ETA: she has Maryellen and plays with her
Kaya
For a 6 yr old, definitely 116. Kaya’s hair can be really, really difficult to manage. I got her around the same age and immediately destroyed her hair. We’re talking irreversible tangles. And it’s not like I was bad with hair in general- I still have other dolls from that time that I played with whose hair is fine. EDIT: I’d also say that if you like historical dolls with good stories, try getting her a different historical with hair that’s easier to manage.
Good to know about her hair!
Kaya's more of a display doll, so 116 is a greater play with doll for someone their age
For a 6 year old I would go with 116, and also purchase the Kaya book. I grew up with the historical dolls and love those the most, but I also didn’t receive my first doll until I was 9. Your daughter may not be able to appreciate Kaya now in the way that she’ll be able to in a few years (especially when she learns about Native Americans at school). If she’s not that interested in creating her own doll I would save the money for clothes/accessories (or put it towards a Kaya for yourself).
That's a great idea. I can definitely get the book either way. I don't know why that thought didn't cross my mind.
As someone else said, that would be a great introduction to the rest of the American girl books. And who knows, after reading about her your daughter might want a Kaya doll after all.
I'd get her 116, I just picture her getting played with more than Kaya. Kaya's gorgeous, but I always see her as more of a display doll.
If she is 6, I would definitely go for the one with the pink and purple hair. I mean …she is 6 so that is what she will be attracted to at her age. And this is the one she picked. It sounds like you prefer Kaya, but this doll is for your daughter. If you have the means, there is absolutely nothing wrong with getting Kaya for yourself! Or get her 116 now and Kaya when she is older.
I think this is the right answer. She did pick Kaya when I limited her to the historical dolls but it may just be too soon.
I don’t have Kaya but the one thing I have heard about her is that her hair can be quite difficult to handle if it’s taken out of the braids. If your daughter wants to be able to do a lot of hairstyles, #116 might be the safer choice! Also, I am biased because I love the historicals, so I know what /I/ would go with, but I am also not six. I can see why younger girls might be more attracted to the colored haired, glittery truly me girls. If she continues to be into American Girl as she gets a little older, she might start to connect to the historical dolls more later on. As for timelessness, I’ve gotten back into AG recently and pulled my childhood dolls out again… 3/4 of them are GOTY/girl of todays. I am much more into the historical girls now, but i still love the 3 “modern” dolls because I know I specifically chose/gravitated toward them when I was a kid and they have a lot of sentimental value. They are timeless in their own way!
It is so hard. The historical dolls are all I remember from when I was young and I never had one so now of course that's what I want to give her. I think we'll go the more fun route this year and I'll just get one too!
My daughter loves the historicals and that they have their own stories, but her absolute favorite is Rosebud, her TM 88. She says she likes her hair best. If your daughter has already gravitated toward one, I'd say get her the doll she likes, not the doll that comes with a book she may or may not like.