Pamper party for 4 year olds

[EmmalinaC]

DD1 has been invited to a pamper party for the 5th birthday of one of her new schoolfriends. It's at a local hair salon. The invitation says they will get a hair-do, manicure and makeup or facepaint.

I have said she could go because I know she will enjoy it and all her new friends are going.

The idea of 4 year old with a face full of (professionally applied!) slap makes me cringe but I would happily let her have her face painted like a butterfly/Spiderman. Am I being a bit pfb? Is make-up so different or is a pamper party just a form of dressing up?

I was thinking of writing NO MAKE-UP on the RSVP/consent form. AIBU?

Appropriate for a 15 year old, totally inappropriate for a 5 year old. My dd is 3. 9 years and noway would she sit still long enough for her to have make up and a hairstyle, and she would look awful as she has a really baby face. Like others have said if it was at home and was more relaxed and the focuse was on dress up and playing, but this is image focused.

Mind you, reading pigletmania's post, I went clubbing for my 15th birthday so maybe I'm not the best judge.

OOOh I went clubbing when I was 15 to a very dodgy club in london, and drank Malibu and cokes in swift succession.

I was in London too, pigletmania,getting tiddled on southern comfort and lemonade.

Eeek, just remembered that I had a thing for extremely glittery make up too - I vaguely remember having almost solidly silver glittery eyeshadow and pink glitter wedges on. Forget what I said...glitter is clearly the route to all evil, probably best not to start on it at 4, it will only lead to getting drunk and kissing a boy in a dodgy club in London at 15.

And I bet you had frizzy hair too..now,if only you'd started going to pamper parties when you were 4, you would have looked so much more groomed when getting pissed at 15.

So it's much worse than I thought. Clearly there is a direct link between early exposure to eyeshadow and teenage alcohol abuse.

I did have frizzy hair! I still do....

Oooh yuk....but of course she has to go! ENcorge the facepaint!

ENcorge? Encourage!

a my little ho party.yuk.is really gross.dont go

manicure
hair-do
make up
..isnt wee girl age appropriate

he he Bingtata, I had a lovely bright orange sixties type halter dress on, and thought i looked really sophisticated, fag in hand, drink in the other. No EmmalinaC I was a real tomboy as a child, no make up or dresses in sight, would rather wear my Arsenal strip and camoflarge [sp) paint on my face than make up.

does the Wag club, and Hipperdrome ring any bells

This is not about children playing at make up and dress up in a fun childish way, its about something more sophisticated and image centered, which is what I dont agree with.

and adultlike

I have to say, I don't object to this. I have a 4 yr old happy, well balanced dd. If she wanted to go the party then I would certainly let her. She loves sitting with me and having her nails painted or playing with my make up. Just as she enjoys 'helping' with DIY, digging in the garden, puzzles, craft, playing football or riding her bike.

I fully expect to get shot down in flames for my honesty but I really wouldn't object.

Bloody hell pigletmania - did I know you? I lived at the WAG!

I am really glad I have boys-I think it is dreadful!

It might not be the sort of party I'd organise for a 5 year old but they'll love it and presumably any treatments given will be easily reversible. Why not? It's a one off - not like they're being dolled up every weekend for beauty pageants.

Wouldn't bother me. Friend's DD went to a party like this last week, and I've seen a photo of the DD (aged 6) just after the party - pretty clips in her hair, glitter in her hair, and no visible make-up. I've also seen the photo of her two hours and one swimming lesson later, totally de-glittered!

Hah, pigletmania, on my 15th birthday I went camping with the Girl Guides, fell over under an overloaded rucksack and spent most of the day in A&E having glass removed from my forehead, being stitched up and having a tetanus shot in my bottom.

I would have loved to have gone clubbing instead.

There's no way I would let dd have makeup done at 4. I'm afraid I have actually dressed her in a smocked frock with bow at the back and startrite shoes and WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO until she's old enough to complain.

Absolutely ridiculous and not appropriate for age but of course you have to let your DD go. You're definitely NBU.

YABU to let her go. Makes a little bit of vom come up thinking about it all. Think the parents who encourage mini me's have ishoos. They are DC not a friend to have highlights with. No wonder eating disorders and plastic surgery are increasing.

I think it's totally inappropriate for such young children but I also understand why you're letting her go.

You could always let her have the works, but treat it how you would with regular face paint & role play, i.e. that she's pretending to be a grown-up for the day, rather than she should be aspiring to this at that age. Or at any age!

Think I'd baulk if my DD was invited to similar in a couple of years (she's 2).

Why can't children be allowed to be children?

I think the word "pamper" is revolting even when used about adults. It usually seems to mean "having a bath"