makeover photo parties for girls aged 6?

[Fififofum]

dd has had invite to a party where the basic premise is they have a makeover, and have loads of pictures taken. My understanding is that they come home with some of the pictures 'airbrushed and retouched'. Birthday child will be 6. Why are people in such a hurry for their kids to grow up? Plenty of time for them to be taking selfies etc and worrying about their appearance. Also have the obvious concern of where will all the pictures of the children be going?? Dd is not going as I don't think it's appropriate, just wanted to rant and see if I'm alone in my dismay

[Vixyboo]

We had professional photos taken of our son as a baby and we were asked if we wanted his birth mark on his arm airbrushed out! I was horrified! I see it as part of him! We said no thanks!

[Vixyboo]

I am glad I have a son!

Please don't let her go. She doesn't need to grow up yet!

[Tryingtostayyoung]

OP personally I'm with you, I wouldn't let my daughter go at that sort of age. I did a feed a while ago about how i went to get DD3 from a friends house and when I collected her she was absolutely plastered in grown up make up and I didn't like it. Very different from her playing with a bit of my blusher whilst I get ready IMO and I think you find you just get two very different opinions on the subject, people who don't see the harm and think it's just a bit of fun and dressing up (which btw I totally understand) and people like me who just feel like I want her to just be a little girl who doesn't worry about things like that until she's older and feel like exposing her this young will ultimately prevent that.

[Flumpsnlumpsnstuff]

I agree with you re the retouching and make up artists koala

[KoalaDownUnder]

Sorry, Flumps - yours sounds fun, not pathetic.

I know it's a fine line, but I think it's s meaningful one, between what you did (which sounds creative and cool for 9 year olds), and what some people are talking about.

It's the professional-type makeup and retouched photos that sound ick, like it's about 'beautifying'.

[Flumpsnlumpsnstuff]

Koala that's your choice but I would object to it being called pathetic my very independent/confident dd2 chose what she wanted and I talked about what would make me uncomfortable and where the limits where and then arranged it. OP - yes I agree at 6 I may be more reluctant to allow it. They are a bit young.
For info my Dd1 has done spy mission, laser tag parties and is paintballing for her 13th so no I'm not influencing them I'm allowing their own individual personalities to come through.

[NotSpartacus]

Oh god, I hate the word 'pamper' too.

[KoalaDownUnder]

I am obviously a curmudgeon as I even hate the word 'pamper'.

[Twowrongsdontmakearight]

The fish thing was pretty uneventful really. Lots of tickly giggles for 5 mins then that was it. On to nail varnish.

[Nannawifeofbaldr]

Twowrongs people allowed their children to do the fish feet thing? Goodness.

[KoalaDownUnder]

I think it's utterly pathetic.

Why on earth would you want to promote a makeover as fun, at that age? Making yourself look 'prettier' and posing for a camera, instead of actual games, or dancing, or craft? Boys get parties that involve doing stuff, like laser tag, and girls get...this?

Seriously.

[Twowrongsdontmakearight]

DD has had several; one where they put their feet in with the little fish and had glittery eye make up and nail varnish. She's chosen pamper parties at home too with hair styling and peel off face masks. She also had a makeover, photo (not retouched) and singing party. She has always loved things like that.

On the other hand she's also had Go Ape and Luge parties too. Some friends didn't want to do the active ones whereas they all seem happy to be pampered.

[Nannawifeofbaldr]

My DD has been 'unavailable' to attend any of the pamper parties she's been invited. Small girls don't need to play with make up IMO.

I am aware that I'm out of step with other mothers on this but frankly don't care. DD isn't even allowed to paint her nails.

[Fififofum]

Yes jacques and flumps - those parties were for 9 yr olds. Photo booths etc sound ok. This is a 6th birthday so there will be 5 and 6 yr olds. I just think it's a bit young.

My concern re the pictures would be the fact that a load of pics that I hadn't seen taken would be in the hands of someone I don't know. I'm a little uncomfortable with that.

Everyone is different, I'm not a 'panicky parent' or anything I just feel that I would like my child to be a child as long as possible

[Welshmaenad]

Butch? Ninth!!!

[Welshmaenad]

The airbrushing etc would fuck me off, but DD recently went to a 'pamper party' for a butch birthday and whilst I was dubious it was actually nice, not so much makeup but face masks and having their hair done in all fancy plaits etc. Since I am completely devoid of the girl gene and can't even French plait, she thought this was amazing

[JacquesHammer]

Bluetrew - I can't comment for other places but our girls got 2 photos each then a chance to buy others (literally we got a link, no pressure). I paid £9.99 for 75 pics via download.

[cardibach]

I don't like pamper parties for little ones at all - why are we suggesting that putting on make up is the best fun a person can have?
However I'm confused by this: Also have the obvious concern of where will all the pictures of the children be going?? It really isn't an obvious concern to me. What is the concern? Not paedophiles, surely?

[Bluetrews25]

And will there be pressure on those who do go to purchase a load of expensive photos? Like all these people who 'win' a 'free' makeover and photoshoot, then along comes the high pressure sales?
This is at best sickeningly awful, and at worst a scam.

[yorkshapudding]

My DN had one of these parties (she's only 7) and when I saw the photos on FB I felt really uncomfortable. All these tiny wee girls with their faces caked in make up, wearing high heels, posing and pouting for the camera. Now DN won't go to a party or even a family meal without make up on. It makes me so sad.

[Flumpsnlumpsnstuff]

I did a pamper party (at Dd2 request) when she turned 9. Before you all shoot me she is obsessed with fashion design so we trawled round charity shops for dresses and accessories. There was 8 girls total 1boy who loves a good pamper, they had clip in colour extensions, nails painted and face glitter/transfers. I used my computer as a photo booth and they all took home an outfit and pics as a gift. It cost me a fraction of a normal party and still gets called the 'best birthday ever'
They did all look like little girls playing and there was no airbrushing

[JacquesHammer]

My daughter went to a 9th party.

They had nail varnish and glitter tattoes then a load of photos taken with various silly props. They weren't photoshopped/airbrushed (other then some images being black and white).

I think I would find out the level of the "pampering" before making a decision

[WorraLiberty]

I agree Vestal

If my Facebook feed is anything to go by, kids can't seem to do anything without having a camera thrust in their face.

It does make me wonder if it's not all going to be a massive contribution to how they feel about their image in the future.

[VestalVirgin]

Kids tend to want to copy adults and have done since the beginning of time, so I think we'll see a lot more of these types of parties in the future.

Oh, sure.

Just, I question that this obsession with appearance is healthy for adults.
Children will always copy adults, but parents have some degree of control over what kind of adults their children copy.

[Kennington]

Sounds awful. I would stay well away.