To think pamper parties for small girls are a bit sad?

[Throughautomaticdoors]

My friend's dd with be 7 in December and is having a pamper party when they each get their hair and make up done and have a mini manicure or pedicure.
On one hand I guess it's no different to dressing up but on the other it sort of seems worse because it's so focused on appearance. It's the beginning of the trout pout and selfies. At 7 I'd have had no idea about getting my make up done. I know it's just how things are now and a lot of the little girls are the same but they are pretty without makeup on aren't they? It's sad that already they feel they have to look different.

I think even if if was just nails and hair it doesn't seem so sad, but make up seems really unnecessary.

Aibu?

There's a difference between putting on a bit of nail polish with your mum, and basing a whole party around it, though.

Pampering (loathe that word) is all about prettying oneself up, isn't it? The end result is about how you look. Not about doing anything. Why would you want to focus children on being so passive, rather than active, at that age?

I really don't get it, and I am surprised that so many people are okay with it.

Girls have the rest of their lives to worry about beautification once they hit their teens. At least let them have their childhood.

I'm pretty sure that girls aged 7 CAN sit still for two minutes. But why would they want to AT A PARTY? You don't go to a party to sit still - you go to dance and chat and play.

I get antsy having my brows threaded (5 minutes) and no longer get my legs waxed because it takes too long and is too boring.

My dd (who is not a princess) had one for her 8th bd. It was just hair crimping, sparkly nails a bit of glitter. Also party games, dancing and food, they all loved it - including my ds (7) who loved having his nails done and gel on his hair.
People seem to be assuming that this objectifies girls but why can't they do everything, after her party we went to the steam railway to see the trains, she also loves climbing, go ape, trampolining, dancing and karate.
I think it's important to show our kids they can enjoy ALL activities they want to including dressing up occasionally.

"Thirty years on, I don't believe I lost my childhood from being exposed to skincare and make up."

Possibly because the tide of pinkification hadn't started then. Gender stereotyping of children is becoming more extensive and rigid. And what was a harmless rare treat 3 decades ago has a totally different resonance now.

(See also the thread about the desirability of having a penis for certain toys).

Oh give over. My 8 year old just had a pamper party. She has been asking for one for years and every year I said no. 2 girls and a boy in our house but we are a very ungirly house. DD2 is convinced she is a boy, would have us call her "Sam" all day long. I get my hair cut every 2 years is seems lately. Nails done maybe once a year at xmas. I use makeup because of my rubbish teenage skin. DD1 came out in "girl" mode though. She loves all things make up, glitter and flouncy. On the other hand she loves horseriding and will go out in all weathers and has no problem mucking out and getting dirty. She loves books and does coding with her daddy. So we agreed she was old enough to get a pamper party as long as it wasn't too full on. We had 14 seven and eight year olds who had a ball. Glitter face paint, glitter tattoos, foot spa, pink dressing gowns and music blaring while they some sat and chatted and some danced. Then they played some games, had food and a chocolate fountain.

We have gone through soft play parties, reptile parties, climbing wall parties, Frozen theme parties, Pirate parties and discos. I hate all pinkification of all things and girls being made to worry about how they look too young but the fact is they do already by this age. I'd rather the "pamper" part is a once in a blue moon activity and balanced out with the every day activities. They all had to wipe off the glitter for school in the morning. Its an all girls school where no jewellery, nail varnish, no make up or coloured hair is allowed. They do coding, GAA, gymnastics and science as part of their curriculum so we are very lucky.

So who enjoyed the party the most? My DD2, she had a brilliant time with the footspa. Sat still (unheard of) to get black sparkley nails done and a pirate tattoo done. Hasn't changed her a bit. I get more worked up about her being called a Tomboy to be honest than about a few girls getting some sparkle done and having fun thrashing my house.

My DD went to one. She also had one and I watched every step of it. She is highly intelligent. She's into all types of things from girly to getting mud on her face (and i don't mean face masks). I don't think a bit of pampering is going to distract her or influence her in a negative way in the long term. As someone said above, it depends on the level of pampering and if you DD goes to one, it's wise to question every step of it get an idea of "is it age appropriate?". This blog certainly puts things into perspective: www.totallypamper.me/blog-detail.asp?BlogID=9