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

Hate the idea of this. Socialising wee girls into thinking hair and make up are important. Let them be kids not mini adults.

How about a sleepover party with 2 or 3 friends, and getting a film, popcorn, treats and throw in a bottle of nail varnish for them to play with, or help them do their nails if they want to.

That should be fun!

A party as you describe sounds like fun for some girls I know, but I know others who would not care for it at all...

I was in the hair dressers a few weeks ago and there was a party of around 6 x 5 year olds they absolutely loved it.. They had their hair and nails done and glitter sprayed on them, juice in plastic wine glasses.. They were having a ball.. I'm considering it for my Dd's 6th birthday.. It's only a bit of fun, I never realised so many people would have a problem with it !! I'd go for it..

juice in plastic wine glasses

I wonder whether boys with juice in pint glasses would be seen as just fun?

It all sounds hideous, 6 year olds pretending to drink wine, I heard it all now!

Why don't we start a binge drink party for 6 year olds, complete with plastic wine glasses with juice in and sweet cigarettes and pretend vomit to go home in the party bags

They had their hair and nails done and glitter sprayed on them, juice in plastic wine glasses
Oh ffs. I agree with helloclitty HIDEOUS!

No YWNBU, dd (5) would love it, she has been to a couple and it is completely harmless. Dressed up as fairies, had a bit of glitter on their cheeks, posh hair bobbles in and nails painted like ladybirds/flowers etc. Nothing 'sexy' just girlie. No different to any other kind of make-believe.
Had pop and party food on the side and did a bit of dancing about. Does depend on what your dd's friends would like too.

Really surprised about how many people are against it tbh.
I seriously doubt that a couple of hours of this type of fun will shape the way your dd feels about women and sexuality in life! You have plently of other opportunites to address this, and wanting to dress up and play girlie isn't a crime!

"Plus, the word "pamper" makes me physically sick, along with the word "treat"."

Why? Do you never feel the need to treat yourself to a long bath or eat or drink something you particularly enjoy. Or is your life so dull and worthy?

at that age my DD would have loved it - I wouldn't have been happy at all & I've never minded her having play make etc, but think this a step too far

Have you thought of doing something like a grown up meal - at a similar age DD invited her group of friends to a favourite restaurant of hers - it was an Italian restaurant & inexpensive, they ordered what they liked & we sat elsewhere I pretty much left them to it - they all raved about it afterwards & it worked out cheaper than the hall etc we'd also done in the past

or this last one we did a red carpet themed cinema trip - with Dad dressed as their minder, with after show party & me as their waitress - which was at home - buffet table & chocolate fountain, fake champagne (Schloer) & Mocktail menu to choose from - I made this myself, used a cocktail shaker with ice & various types of ready mixed smoothy - theme such as cake, invites party bags etc was Stars - again this went down well - especially the canopy of net filled with balloons, sequins & tinsel (poundland stuff) that they spent most of the party going mental with - didn't need the planned entertainment & games at all & they all said it was the best party they've been too - we did it for only the 6 of them too, so again, even with cinema it worked out really cheap :)

Working on publicity for one of these atm.

Can't say I'm impressed. Especially with disclaimers about whether they had with regard to allergies to skincare products and asking if they would allow photos.

I don't see it as sexual at all. But I do see it as sexist and utterly shallow and potentially starting an early obsession with appearance. I don't understand adult pamper parties or being obsessed with style over substance either too though.

I wouldn't want a daughter to attend, and would try and find an excuse rather than just ban her from it I think.

But then I never wore make up until I was in my 20s, and hated the dumb princess approach to life from about 4. I refused to wear dresses as soon as I could. And I have continued to refuse to wear pink at all until in my 30s. If I ever have a baby girl I will be an utter monster and totally precious by refusing to have anything pink in the house unless she wanted it herself.

Could you maybe shift the emphasis? Make it a dressing up/princess/fairy party but as a side thing do face painting (with glittery lip gloss if that's their bag or more traditional face painting if not) and/or "hairdressing" (ie. plaiting or clipping into a new style with fun bobbles, sparkly ribbons & accessories)? That way your DD and her friends still get their 'pampering' but it's not the main focus of the party.

or this last one we did a red carpet themed cinema trip - with Dad dressed as their minder, with after show party & me as their waitress - which was at home - buffet table & chocolate fountain, fake champagne (Schloer) & Mocktail menu to choose from - I made this myself, used a cocktail shaker with ice & various types of ready mixed smoothy
wtf?? what happened to pass the parcel?

cherry I would find an excuse to decline too & I've always been very much the made up glamour puss, so I don't think its anything to do with our personal tastes for wearing make-up, I just find it highly inapropriate for kids of this age or even my own now older DD - I recently had a go at a woman running a nail bar - we walked past & DD was taken by the artwork on nails in the window - she was interested in the ART, not the nails - yet the woman thought it was okay to come outside & try & sell the idea of being a customer - not to me, but to DD

DD is a bit older rumn & pass the parcel is apparently "for babies" these days - it was very much little girls dressing up & having fun & they knew very well what they were drinking & it was all very much just a game

Juice in plastic wine glasses? Well why didnt they give them a pretend crack pipe to go with it? Whatever next pretend lingerie modelling parties? Well its only dressing up/pretend after all...

yuk just horrible

i do not have a problem little girls or boys wanting to wear naili polish like mummy, granny, maybe daddy does and playing dressing up but this is not that, this is not children playing this is them being treated like adults who are obsessed with their appearance

why not pick a few friends and take them to the zoo/widlife park a day out you will all enjoy and educational too

Ooh I love brian's 'afternoon tea' idea. I think that's just great. I would have loved it! You could do also it at home with a bit of charity-shop flowery china and some little menus of what was on the table. Could you get an extrovert good-with-kids mum or dad to help and take the pressure off you, GreatBallsOfFluff? I've got no idea of the politics of this, I've only got a seven-month-old, but I can't imagine that in seven years' time I would say no to the mums and dads I know if they asked me to give them a hand with something like this. Although of course then you may have to return the favour which you might dread even more! Anyway good luck with whatever you decide to go for.

Grim. I absolutely hate the idea of 'pampering' and making up little girls. Yuck.

Wow, I really did not expect a response as huge as this. Helenlynn there may be one of DD's friend's mum who I could bribe with wine ask, but it's tricky as I don't do normal time drop off and pick up so enlisting help is difficult. Also I was sort of let down on the last party by a couple of people (posted then too ) so try not to rely on anyone who is not being paid to be there IYKWIM.

To be honest, I would have no problem with DD just have in one or two of her friends round for a sleepover with popcorn, film, may nail varnish and plaiting of hair etc, but not too sure whether DD will go for that or not.

The natural beauty of young girls - how do you improve on that? A pampering party suggests there is room to.

I can't stand to see this obsession with looks with the teenage girls that attend the local 6 th form college let alone encouraging 7 year old girls to give a damn. It is shallow and unnecessary!

No from me. I probably wouldn't stop my DD going (at that age - she is 4.7 now and I would probably avoid it) but certainly wouldn't book one myself.

DD and most of her friends would rather be running around and climbing and jumping - even if they are wearing dressing up clothes at the time!

IIWY I'd do it on the cheap - LOVE boffinmum's fake cinema idea, you can paint their nails and put loads of hairclips on them, I'm sure for most 7yos that will be plenty!

Too young IMO. These things didn't exist when I was a child, and I think we started experimenting with make up a little bit at age 11 or 12. I think a pamper party for secondary school age upwards would be OK, if done in the right way. But at 7 it just seems like too much, too soon.

OP, I wasn't implying you were being shallow considering it, just ranting.

My DS 4.8 went to a party recently for a 6 year old girl, he was one of 2 boys and told me it was really boring because it was 'princess' orientated with pampering, make up and other 'girly' cliches! He said that he mostly played outside with girls that didn't want to do these things. As a 7 year old in the mid 80's I was bored shitless when parties had the princess theme. I went to one where the parents hired a swan for the huge pond in accordance with the 'pretty feminine' things- I didn't get it atall. I think by going ahead with such a party you maybe in danger of excluding those not interested although to be fair you obviously need to prioritise your DD's feelings.