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4 year old wears makeup
How does ML feel about this?
http://gma.yahoo.com/four-old-young-too-young-072532737--abc-news-topstories.html
Lindsay Cross wrote on the website Mommyish.com about how her 4-year-old daughter Brenna's interest in cosmetics came about after the young girl watched her apply make-up before attending events. When she shared how applying cosmetics soon became a special bonding routine between mother and daughter, she didn't anticipate the intense reaction from the online community and beyond.
"When I wrote the piece I didn't think it was that monumental of a deal," Cross told ABC News. "I didn't think that it was something that was just too out of the norm ? I did notice some articles that said 'Suri Cruise wears very bright lipstick,' and there were so many people who were critiquing their parenting choices, because this 5-year-old is wearing make-up. I was like ? 'of course she does, she's 5 and her mom wears lipstick.'
"I think that [in] parenting, we all want everybody to be like us, because I think then that means that we did it right," she added.
Reaction to Cross's article ranged from Internet commenters who say that she is allowing her daughter to fall prey to society's notions of beauty at far too young an age, to a psychiatrist who maintains that this can lead to an unhealthy desire for flawlessness.
"As someone whose mom couldn't leave the house without being done-up, and subsequently infused this into her daughters' psyches, I say watch out," one commenter wrote. "Please don't help your daughters fall into the 'pretty' trap so young."
Adolescent psychiatrist Henry Paul agrees, saying that 4 years old is too young for a girl to be wearing make-up.
"The use of make-up in some way can be addictive, and what these children would be addicted to is the pursuit of perfection -- the superficial, skin-deep, I'm only as good as I look [attitude]," Paul said.
Cross, however, maintains that her daughter's make-up is just child's play.
"I think that with make-up, for her, it's a way for her to be like her mom. I don't think that she puts two and two together, where you have to wear make-up so that you can present yourself to the world," Cross explained.
Cross says that when she brings her daughter out, most people don't notice that Brenna is wearing make-up, as she does not wear red lipstick, eyeliner mascara, or foundation.
When asked, Brenna said that she likes to wear make-up "because it makes me pretty."
Cross says that she does understand that it is contradictory to tell her girl that one doesn't have to wear make-up to be beautiful, but that she's allowed to because she feels the prettiest when she puts it on. She says that she intends to have a more serious conversation on the matter when Brenna is older.
For now, Cross say she just wants her daughter to enjoy being a child.
"Now it's dress-up and playing pretend," she said. "It's playing that she's older. And I think that as she gets to be a bit older, she'll look at it differently, and well talk about it differently."
The line that bugs me is when the little girl says she wears makeup to "feel pretty." She's 4! She should be taught that she is beautiful without it.
Re: 4 year old wears makeup
If my 4 or 5 year old wanted to wear bright pink lipstick I'd probably let her. I'd also probably let her wear her tutu and super hero costumes too.
Whatever, kids like to dress up.
So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.
C is fascinated by my makeup and brushes and since I told her she cannot play with it, she informed me that I need to buy her her own makeup. lol Honestly, I had a Barbie makeup kit when I was 4/5 years old and loved it. It was fun.
and even though I had that, I do not wear tons of makeup nor do I feel like i NEED it.
See, that's key. As long as the kids aren't growing up feeling like they need it then I see no harm.
I very clearly remember how awesome Fresh n Fancy was. Does anyone else remember this? It kicked so much ass. You got to create your own garish lipsticks and nasty smelling perfumes and stuff.
My friend had one and I wanted one SO EFFING MUCH. Little girls like to play dress up. People need to pipe down.
Agree! Some of the comments were pretty drastic. The kid is wearing a little makeup and they're comparning her to Jon Benet and Toddlers and Tiaras. lol
To be clear, I think it's fine the kid is wearing makeup and having fun. I just think that the kids that feel they NEED it to feel pretty are a concern.
My niece is 6 and she has this hello kitty makeup set that she loves. She tries really, really hard to get the gloss on her lips but it always ends up everywhere else. lol
This!
Here's the thing. The daughter might ask the mom why she is putting on the makeup and what is she to say? I bet she answers, "because it makes me feel pretty" which is the truth. I know I feel good when I have nicely applied makeup on. And i would be willing to bet that is why that 4 year old gave that answer.
Really, what other reason would you give for why you applying all that crap? lol
Wbl, do you remember Tinker Bell makeup? The perfume was God awful. lol
OMG Fresh and Fancy!!!!!
loved that.
I used to have this Barbie perfume that I loved. In hindsight, it smelled like an old lady, but I freaking loved it.
My mom used to give me her old blushes/powders when she was done with them, or they were almost running out or whatever. I didn't have a brush though so I'd put it on with my hand. Shiitt all over the place. lol
You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted and used against you. My Blog
She could say that it's part of the enjoyable adornment ritual that goes before a special night out, or something. I'd recommend explaining that right before bed, to put the kid to sleep.
I loved that nail polish that peeled off. (Tinkerbell, maybe?)
This is all NBD.
If you add charts and diagrams, it will be perfect.
Hello 1985!!!!!
I'd let her play with it.
And I'd use it as a chance to teach her that makeup can be fun but isn't needed to be beautiful (of course because she is beautiful anyway).
Yeah, I also think people are blowing it out of proportion. There is a HUGE difference between the pictures of her daughter in makeup on her site, and this:
I mean, if she was putting makeup on her daughter every day, I'd have an issue, but for special occasions? NBD.
I don't think it's a big deal.
And I doubt that the daughter really makes the connection that makeup = pretty, at least not yet anyway. She's probably just echoing her mother. She'd probably say the same thing if you asked her why she was wearing a tutu or a sparkly scarf.
When I was 4 I used to wrap one of my blankets around myself in a toga style because it made feel pretty. I certainly don't feel the need to do that to feel pretty now.
I don't think it is a big deal. Addy loves to point out my painted toenails and begs for us to paint hers. She has blue on right now, she says she wants green next.
She watches me put on make up and plays with my brushes already. I really like make up because it is fun, but I will leave the house without it on with no problem. Little girls like to be like their moms, and that is healthy. The issue comes in when the mom has insecurity issues, and little girls will have that influence in their lives no matter what age they start putting on blush and lip gloss. People are way too uptight about this. I think it is sweet. I love when Addy wants to do things like me.
Exactly. I don't think it's an active attempt to try to "look pretty". It's more of a playing pretend and doing something that feels grown up.
A few years ago we were visiting my ILs for Christmas. My niece, who was 5 or 6 at the time, got into my makeup and found a tube of tinted lip gloss. She then proceeded to smear it all over her face in place of make up. I walked into the room as she was doing this just in time to hear her say "I'm so glamorous" This was seriously one of the funniest things I have ever seen. I can't think of this and not laugh, so I obviously don't think it was something sinister to be worried about.