I have to vent here. Since preschool I have had to deal with mothers taking their daughters when they went for their manicures and pedicures and got their daughters' nails painted. Although DD went to the Bibbidi Bobbidi boutigue at 4 and got hair and makeup and nails done, it was a once in a big while thing. They gave you the makeup which I secretly threw out after a while, after it was on a high shelf.
Last week we went to a friend's house, they have a daughter turning 6 also and a 3 year old. They had gone to one of those cheap jewellery outlets and got make up kits and got one for DD. They all played with the makeup, including their 3 year old, putting on eye shadow.
We happened to be at a dinner party yesterday with these same people and I had a discussion with the hostess about what DD would want for birthday present, she asked about makeup and I said I do not allow it. And then we had a long discussion about letting them be kids.
We have huge discussions here about accelerating our kids academically but I really think they do not have to grow up too fast. If you let them have make up now (and they insist that it is not to wear out) but what happens in 2 years? Are they going to sneak it out in their backpacks?
Any support here on what to do?
Ren
You have my support.
If a child is going to sneak wearing makeup out of the house, they will sneak whether you have allowed none or some. Sneaking, whether makeup, alcohol, etc., is a result of peer pressure having more influence than the parent or the values the parent has tried to instill in the child. Your relationship with the child has to be stronger, and more valuable to the child than any peer relationship until the child has grown to be an independant person and responsible for their own choices.
How you build that relationship is up to you, but it has little to do with allowing no, or some, or unlimited makeup. I think staying consistant with your values and teaching those values to your child is important. Kids can smell hypocrisy a mile away, and that's a sure way to lose their respect.
My personal thoughts about makeup is it is used to make yourself attractive to the opposite gender. I know many on this thread have other reasons for wearing makeup, I'm just stating my opinion of makeup. For that reason, I only allowed makeup for our daughter once she had reached an age I thought was appropriate for dating. She has always used it tastefully.
