WIBU to book a 'pamper' party for 7yo?

[GreatBallsOfFluff]

DD is turning 7 soon and I'm trying to think of what to do for her birthday. For the last 3 years I have hired a hall and had an entertainer/dj but I simply cannot afford it this year.

I'm really not good with entertaining and interacting with other people's children which is why I've always done that sort of party. The thought of having 7 or 8 of her friends at my home to entertain for 2 hours fills me with absolute dread.

I suggested to DD going bowling with a few friends. She wasn't interested. I suggested taking her and a couple of friends to the cinema. Again, she said no. I asked her what she wanted, and she shrugged. I then (foolishly) suggested a pamper type party with nail varnish and the like. She really liked the idea

So I've had a quick look around the internet and found the following:

PAMPER 2)
The mini princess Pamper age 4 up
This glittery party is recommended for children of all ages. All products are non toxic & kiddie friendly where possible & always age appropriate. Shimmery make-up is applied to cheeks, eyelids & lip gloss to create fun glamour!

Price includes:

Themed invitations
Gentle file & paint for fingers OR toes
Glitter & sparkle non toxic polish & nail stickers/art (age 4+)
Glitter make-up Age appropriate make-up (shimmering cheeks, eye shadow & lip gloss)
Face jewels
Hair straighteners, crimpers & heated tongs.
Fruit punch fountain with pink plastic cocktail glasses & accessories
Glitter hair Highlights
Spray of perfume
Aftercare advice
CONTACT ME FOR MORE INFO

So I was wondering what you would all think if your little girl was invited to a party like this, or is it an absolutely stupid idea which I shouldn't even entertain doing, and convince DD that a perfect idea for her 7th birthday would be perhaps her first sleepover with her best friend?

Please be gentle

Totally agree Brian-all this fuss about 'sexualisation' load of bullshit.My grandma used to have her hair put into rags to change it from straight to curly,what's the difference using an electric appliance to straighten hair? Seems like the 'paedo on every corner' is out in force tonight.

A year or two ago I would have said you're being totally unreasonable and thought it sounded dreadful. Actually, to me it still would be dreadful, I don't do make up, at all. However, I know that my dd would absolutely love something like this - she's 5 - but I wouldn't do this kind of party for her unless all of her main group of friends would be into it. It would be cruel to leave one or two of a group out, so I would say give it a miss if it's not something all of her friends would want to do.

The only thing I would not allow would be the straighteners/tongs aspect, but the rest I would be fine with. And I really can't believe I'm saying this.

I'd be ok with this.
dd1 is not even 5 (i'll do the for you) and asked for make up for her birthday. we mulled it over, and got her some peel-off nail polish and some glittery lip gloss. it's just dressing up stuff, bears no resemblance to proper make-up (what with being orange and purple and glittery), and most importantly, i was desperate for some of that Tinkerbell BOPO nail polish ever since i was old enough to read the Avon catalogue, and will never forgive my mother for saying no.

I'm not wild on the tongs/straightners business though - ruins my their hair.

Maybe ringletted around fingers or rags/plaits overnight etc Brian
But not heated appliances on a 7 year old's hair.

hardly green. Being plastered in makeup and perfume is not the same as having your hair in rags. Nothing to do with paedo's, not sure where you got that from

Brian I hate everything pink and fluffy anyway so this kind of thing gets my back up. I just think they grow up so quickly these days, so why try and make them into little women.

x posts with sandalwood

I really don't mind the very occasional straightening/tonging of my DDs hair (she's only 2, but very long thick hair and I have straightening/curled it for parties and a wedding when she was bridesmaid).
And nail varnish doesn't bother me either.
But my DD has sensitive skin and cannot have face painting or wear make-up so she would be excluded for this reason which would make me a bit sad for her.
At 7, I think most little girls would love this, as an alternative to bowling/cinema/sleepover. It's a tricky age to cater for.

it's not making them into little women any more than letting them dress up in doctor's outfits is hothousing them.
it's fun. it's pretend play.

doctors'

But I've done that Sandalwood - nothing happened.

She had straight hair for a non-uniform day, because she wanted to wear it down.

Another time I used curling tongs (that I bought her last christmas)

Again, nothing happened - she just had curly hair.

Not an everyday occurrence.

Same with nail polish - sometimes I'll do her nails on a Friday night while we're watching a film. Polish comes off before we go out on a Saturday. Never wears it to school.

If I was to constantly be using hair straighteners/curling tongs on her hair then yes, terrible - it would wreck her hair but more importantly, I don't spend that much time on my own hair so wouldn't go to the trouble with an 8yo.

My soon to be 8yo would love to go to a party like this.

I wouldn't necessarily book one for her, but when she has friends round they have played "beauty salons" - don't know where the idea came from, but they ended up with their feet in my foot spa, nails painted and mashed banana on their faces and thought it was the best thing ever.

As a Brownie Leader who entertains 32 girls for 1.5 hours week this post is making me think there is a lost business opportunity

I think 7 is a bit young for some of the aspects of the pamper party. I would save that for a while - she's going to have a birthday every year! I really don't think you need to 'buy' the experience though - just do it yourselves and edit it down to the more child friendly aspects like glittery stickers and nail varnish?

Pretend play - exactly Charlotte

I'd be up in arms if I saw a 7 yo turn up at school in full on make-up and a proper hair 'do'.

I wouldn't allow my dd to do that.

A pamper party, is just that - a party, they'll go home and wash the make-up off.

Oh, I love pink and fluffy - truly do. I also love Landrover Defenders, fighter planes (they're so fast and noisy), mud and climbing scary hills and the odd scramble up a tree, girly films, cheap wine (and expensive stuff - but cheap is all can afford right now) erm, kittens/puppies/sharks, I do not like moths though. I'm not fussy were I get my thrills, or the colour in which they come, as long as I've a smile on my face - hope DD turns out the same way too

ok brian I'll leave you to your pink fluffyness! I'm off to bed

I probably wouldn't let my DD go to a party like this. (she's 6)

I shall wallow in pink happiness.....well a brown armchair.

G'night

To turn all the party goers into this you mean?

I especially like this <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=american+beauty+pageants+children&hl=en&sa=X&rlz=1G1SVEF_ENUK452&biw=1599&bih=795&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=r3ftjPqxmSMgaM:&imgrefurl=goodenoughmother.com/2011/01/the-gem-debate-should-child-beauty-pageants-be-banned/&docid=wGhWbDkrv_YR2M&imgurl=www.goodenoughmother.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Toddlers-and-Tiaras-Mia.png&w=589&h=368&ei=ig9IT9yLJoPa8QOC3qmVDg&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=269&sig=100917297802735748290&page=3&tbnh=150&tbnw=200&start=77&ndsp=38&ved=1t:429,r:30,s:77&tx=135&ty=61" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">madonna costume Aint she just cute as a button?

Gorgeous Quint

I'm sure no damage to her hair was done Brian, you did it yourself.
Would you hand your DD over to the 'The mini princess Pamper' party organiser to do it though? I don't think I would.

And what are you supposed to say to a little girl that's just had all that done? "You look lovely" ?

I dunno, I think it sounds like fun (if you are into that sort of thing) and its not really sexualisation is it? Its not like they are going to be showing the girls how to perfect the perfect sultry smoky eye and vajazzling them is it - what adult goes around with glitter make up, face jewels and glitter in their hair? Its not adult make up, its just a bit of glitter.

I would have loved this as a child and I only ever wear make up for big nights out now!

Well, yes - I'd be there (parents stay there don't they?)

I personally, wouldn't pay for the party - I could do similar myself for more than half the price. But again, I wouldn't want to be looking after lots of excited 7yo's.

I suppose what i did for my DD was different, a family friend who has their own salon, it was very much 'pretend' and just so lovely and a bit different to normal birthday experiences.

I let a hairdresser cut DD's hair (if I did it, oh dear - dread to think!) There are scissors involved there, no more dangerous than the straightener/tongs.

Anyway, I get where you're coming from but as I say for me it's not a big deal - the links that Quint showed, that is a huge deal, weird. But for a bit of playing/dress-up, break from reality, I can't see a problem. I agree, not as a lifestyle choice for a young girl, make-up/hair done as a day-to-day 'regime', not normal. But I've never seen that on any child under the age of 14/15 anyway.

I'm am now off to bed too. I'm old, I need my sleep

Interesting subject though, good to hear other's opinions.

I wouldn't want a party like this simply because for most of the time, the girls are just waiting around for their turn. It's boring.

OP I suspect you might have to go through with it though, because your DD is so keen. But next year maybe just invite 4 or 5 and do something at home like cooking/craft with a pass-the-parcel and a bit of home disco - much easier and cheaper.

I wouldn't let my daughter who is 6 go. Drinking fake cocktails while having her hair straightened?????
I recommend reading Cinderella Ate My Daughter if you are really interested in the change in the way toys/make up etc are marketed to girls