As a young girl, it was all the rage to have an American Girl Doll. Parents relentlessly tried to get their hands on these dolls at any moment for their children. Every doll came with its own backstory and you could get tons of different outfits, accessories, and kits. As a kid, I remember begging my parents for my very own American Girl Doll. I wanted every accessory and kit available. American Girls started to become popular in 1989 and have grown in popularity since then.  The company skyrocketed, growing at least 13 percent every year. What little kid wouldn’t want an 18-inch doll that portrays themselves and other inspiring young girls? These dolls were all the craze at any playdate. Kids would bring them to each other’s house and trade clothes and/or accessories with each other. Who would’ve thought that baby dolls would take over the toy industry?

My American Girl Dolls were my pride and joy. I remember when I opened my very first doll on Christmas morning and the feeling of excitement that ran through me. As a kid, I had six dolls by the time I was 10 years old. My parents got me every kit you could imagine including the picnic kit, teaching kit, medical kit, and even a horseback riding kit. I interviewed Alyssa Alosi, a senior at Pennridge High School, and asked her a few questions regarding her experience with American Girls. She mentioned that she received her first doll around third grade. Alyssa stated, “I was so excited because all my friends had dolls and I loved to dress them up in different outfits.” Reminiscing on the days we’d play with dolls brings a sense of nostalgia to our hearts. It’s crazy to think we could sit for hours on end with our friends and dress-up dolls and come up with wild scenarios together. I think about how much I cherished my dolls as a kid and hope that one day my children will be able to experience the same feelings about their American Girl Dolls. Alyssa was asked if she would buy these dolls for her kids and she said, “yes because I loved them as a kid and I want my kids to play with them too.” I also spoke to another Pennridge senior named Abbie Iannetta. Abbie states “I was really happy and excited. They were so popular; everyone had them, so it made me want one.” She agreed with Alyssa and also wants her children to experience the joys of American Girls. 

Looking back on these days brings endless amounts of serotonin when thinking about all the memories I’ve made with these dolls. American Girls opened up young kids’ creativity across the world that older generations couldn’t have imagined. Growing up owning these dolls will forever impact me and I’m happy to be able to think back on all the good times I had. I’ll never forget the playdates I had with my friends and the unimaginable stories we’d make up with our dolls. We may be growing up, but we will never forget our American Girl Dolls.