In not liking the idea of nail painting for the children at a pre-school coffee morning ?

[Wheelybug]

Children are between 2.5 and 4 and they are planning on having tattoos and nail painting at a coffee morning to raise money for the pre-school. I don't think its really appropriate.

Would you say something ?

[VinegARGHHHTits]

Whats wrong with it? unless they are real tattoos!

[Wheelybug]

its more the nail painting than the tattoos (even though I'm not particularly keen on the tattoos either but would probably go along with that to keep the peace).

[Wheelybug]

I'm assuming they're not real

[GrimmaTheNome]

So long as its proper kiddie nail varnish
it doesn't seem like such a bad idea.

[nooOOOoonki]

nail painting - god I can't keep still long enough afterwards to stop them smudging so good luck with 2 year olds!

personally think it is harmless

[lulumama]

nail painting is not permanent though is it. if it is a bit of glittery polish I don;t see the harm. but i loathe temporary tattoos.

[lulumama]

i realise the tattoos aren;t eitehr! i suppose what i mean is, it is a bit of fun, that can be removed later and no harm done. not like perming their hair or giving them a full make up!

[DartmoorMama]

Would agree its not age appropriate, face painting would be better.

[wheresthehamster]

Only if you are prepared to organise and run something else yourself

Nothing wrong as far as I can see. Don't support it if you don't agree.

[sammybeth]

my dd,s pre-school did this at a fund raising day and all the kids loved it. I personally dont see any harm in it, but then i used to paint my dd nails at home when she was 2 as she wanted to be like mummy.

[Heated]

I would refuse permission, no great uproar, I just think it looks naff on young girls/babies. On a practical note, dd would have her fingers in her mouth before the varnish was dry.

[Wheelybug]

Ah phew - Dartmoor - thought it was just me being a stick in the mud (actually I know its not because another mother bought it up with me, I had naively assumed it was for the adults). I agree facepainting is far more appropriate.

The thing is, I won't be able to pin dd down to get it off her once its and once its done once its a bit of a slippery slope isn't it. I've always said no and now someone else is almost taking the decision out of my hands. Agreed I could not go but then I would like to go to the event to support the pre-school. I could forbid dd to have it done and then have to drag her away kicking and screaming. I could offer to do something else but have the artistic qualities of a 2 year old.

[EachPeachPearMum]

Ooh dear, maybe I am a snob but I would think far too young! Maybe 7 upwards...

I think little girls have far too much encouragement as it is to be 'barbies' or 'princesses' and don't need any more re-inforcement that in order to be of value they must be decorative.

[sammybeth]

So you wouldnt let your 2 year old dd to dress up as a fairy or princess??

[Joolyjoolyjoo]

Have to admit, I don't really like this. I just feel it's encouraging little girls to behave like older girls- same goes for make up etc. My 4 yr old dd regularly begs me to be allowed make-up and nail polish (because she said some of the girls at her nursery have it, which the nursery confirmed) I just feel uncomfortable with it. They have so much time later on to experiment with cosmetics etc, and so little time to actually enjoy just being little kids. But maybe I'm a bit oversensitive..,.

[combustiblelemon]

YANBU

[BetteNoire]

It wouldn't bother me at all.
A bit of dressing up for those children that want to do it.
If you don't like it, don't let your children do it.
No need to complain about it, imo.

[colacubes]

I was always part of the NO brigade, shouldnt dress little girls up as big girls, bloody perverts everywhere, and now I have a dd who at 2.7 yrs loves mummys make up and loves my shoes and nail varnish... so probably more to do with us than harming the dd's, and maybe ds, cant leave the boys out!

[Joolyjoolyjoo]

Tbf, I think there is a difference between dressing up as a princess, or a fairy and using your imagination to pretend to be something and painting your nails a different colour. I can't see how painting their nails helps them to explore another persona in the same way. Dressing up can turn them into a nurse, a doctor, a pirate, a fireman, but having coloured nails really just seems to teach them the importance of looking pretty, to me

[PinkTulips]

when i was apinting my nails a few months back dd (3) wanted hers done too, and once she'd had hers done ds (18 months at the time) wanted his done. it looked very cute

there's no harm in it and even non chip adult stuff wears off in 2 days with a kid

[NotBigNotClever]

Har! My chunky-monkey ds aged 3.9 would probably love the glittery nail varnish. As long as they use the dry-in-60-seconds stuff they will be OK. He also loves temporary tatoos (has an incredible hulk one at the mo'). He hates the idea of having his face painted though, as did his sister when she was small. Not every child likes face-painting, you know! If you don't like it, suggest running a biscuit-decorating stall instead...

[shootfromthehip]

Would have said no too before the arrival of the pinkest, fluffiest girl in the world in my life. Both DD and DS (nearly 2)INSIST on nail varnish when I put it on and I allow it. It doesn't last and they love it. The tattoos are a little on the naff side though.

[VinegARGHHHTits]

Its just a bit of nail painting, they will probably see it along the same lines as finger painting, only they will be painting their fingers instead of the paper. Hardly going to turn then into vain little scar them for life now is it

[VinegARGHHHTits]

thats should have been vain little monsters abnd scar then for life

[Wheelybug]

Jooly - I think you and I definitely think along the same lines.

Right, well I guessed there would be a real split. Its not that I am going to complain about it just that I think the pre-school would actually listen if it thought that some parents weren't happy with it. I (and others) could say no but I think those that have suggested it must have much less stroppy dd's than mine.

TWO DAYS to wear off - that's my point exactly . Actually I suppose I could insist she just has her toe nails painted. It is almost winter after all.....