Makeup as gifts

[BadFeminist]

DD is 4.
This year the majority of her Xmas gifts are makeup.

Since starting school DD loves makeup, (and shit American accents and hair flipping) and this is what she has asked for.

She will watch YouTube tutorials on makeup (which I support because it's either that or that god awful Ava Isla and whatever the third one is and I cannot handle their mothers voice without breaking something) and really just wants to play and be "made up" with glittery shit and pink lipstick.

I don't do makeup, I use the same Superdrug eyeliner I've been using for ten years and my one bottle of foundation lasts about two years, so I'm a complete failure as a mother clearly.

Today discussing what the kids are getting in Work one of the wives of a colleague made hell of a face and said "oh god" but when I asked what she meant she just shrugged it off and said "oh nothing, I just think that's not really the done thing" but wouldn't elucidate any further.

Is is THAT big of a deal?

It seems sad, really.

I think one little kids make up set is fine but the majority of her presents, not. I don’t think it’s appropriate for a 4yo to watch make up tutorials

How much make up have you got her?

I have no problem with children playing with makeup but think that at age 4 one little play set would be plenty, not the majority of her presents. I also wouldn't buy foundation, primer, contour stuff before teens.
I have bought my 10 year old some glitters and coloured eye shadows and mermaid brushes.

I wouldn't have spent much on makeup. A couple of cheaper sets then other things too. I would be trying to gently discourage an obsession with make up although I wouldn't have a problem indulging a little bit to be worn in the house only

My little one was given make up for her 4th Birthday let's just say she definitely needs a tutorial

I didn't have any make up until I was 14; my daughters were a similar age.

Four seems too young to me, both from my own experience and I wouldn't want to sell the idea to my young daughter that she isn't perfectly fine as she is.

At 4 years old I bought my daughter a Tonka toy dumper truck.

But it's your call.

I mean.. a bit of makeup to play with, I think that's fine. But ALL her presents are makeup? And she watches makeup tutorials a lot... seems a bit much. She's 4!

Agree with winterandspring that all seems rather sad and depressing to me. I'm not anti make-up I wear it myself but Youtube tutorials for a four year old isn't great.

wow that is sad and depressing.

My chidren are 5&3 and no the alternative to You tube tutorials isn't other YouTube videos... the alternative is Duplo, books, puzzles, dolls, scooters...

Yes I'm judging. If she needs screentime use cbeebies for a limited period.

When I was younger, I said my favourite animals were pigs (because another girl said that and I copied her). From then on, I always got pig themed gifts. It became a thing and I never had space to really think what was my thing or develop other collections. It sounds a bit like this-she likes some make up but now she will be ‘the girl who likes make up’ as that’s what people will get her as a fail safe. Focusing on just one aspect of what she enjoys will stifle other areas. Plus I wouldn’t be letting her watch YouTube videos so focused on appearance.

It kind of depends what you mean when you say 'the majority of her presents'. A wee tinted lip balm and some kids' glittery nail varnish is one thing, a full make-up kit is another!

Seems quite sad to me. Like she’s being forced to grow up too soon. Women spend their lives fussing over and being made to think about make up; it’s nice if they get exposed to different things when they’re as young as your daughter. I think you are to blame tbh - my neice always asks me for jewellry and make up princess type stuff, but her mum (my sibling) is always firm that she won’t have it in the house. Parenting is difficult sometimes.

You're in control of the presents. Just buy her different stuff. She sounds creative...buy her some craft stuff or some kids fashion design stuff. I wouldn't let a 4 year old watch you tube videos even with me supervising.

Really?
Do you mean yr4 ? still not great
How did she manage to spend time finding all those tutorials?
She should be watching more age appropriate things.

I think it's a little bit sad that most of her presents at 4 are make up. Where are the toys, dolls, games, books, puzzles? Plenty of time for make up when she hits her teens. I have girls much older and even they get bored watching people plaster themselves in make up all the time. One little glittery set is fine but any more than that is unnecessary.

How much? Some palettes of decent stuff from a distributor I know. Glitter and beige tones. It'll literally be shimmery highlighters and pink lipstick/gloss.

I don't like it. So many other things a 4 year old could be doing other than beautifying herself, and I would worry about the long-term effects of watching all that crap.

To be honest since she's been watching I've obviously watched with her and some of it is fascinating and so inclusive, and certainly not about "beautifying". There's a lot of artistic expression, especially with the male makeup artists.

She's certainly not got any confidence issues and is always keen to have hair chalks and such.

I just cannot see how a couple of shimmery palettes and some brushes for her to inevitably mess up are worth a sharp intake of breath.

Wind up surely?
You said you were wondering ...
Yet now,you are so confident in your choices!

She’s 4. 4 fgs.

Do you honestly need it spelling out why colleagues dw was pulling face.

OP, if you can’t see it after the reasons others have given them you probably won’t see it.
Make up at 4 is not great as it is too focused on image. Get her some face paints instead!

My chidren are 5&3 and no the alternative to You tube tutorials isn't other YouTube videos... the alternative is Duplo, books, puzzles, dolls, scooters...

She can almost read, has bikes and rollerblades, spends most weekends rockpooling at the beach, already has a huge art set, the bookshelf is heaving and we are currently halfway through the Subtle Knife at bedtime, puzzles bore her. We watch more nature documentaries or how it's made docs than the average bear and her social skills are spot on.

When I say majority of gifts mind, Xmas is with dad this year so it's only little presents for Boxing Day here.

Well op, you said the 'majority' of her gifts, so if for instance you'd bought 20 presents, 15 of those could be make up. Which would be way too much. But now you're saying it's only a couple of bits. So does she also have some toys, games or books to unwrap too?