To consider this for my daughter’s birthday?

[ExcusesHalfTruthsFortifiedWine]

My daughter turns four at the end of the year. She is one of the youngest in her nursery class. Her nursery is small and there are only about 5 or 6 girls in her room.

I’m trying to organise a party for her and I’m stumped for ideas. Don’t fancy the soft play and it’s December so outdoors is not really an option. House is too small to do anything here.

DD is very “girly”. She loves princesses, having her nails painted, glitter, unicorns etc. They all do. I think nursery must be where it comes from because it’s not from me!

Anyway there is a beauty salon nearby which offers a party option for kids. It is literally just nail varnish, face paint, glitter tattoos and party games. I think DD would love it.

DH is against it. Says he thinks they are too young and that parents will see the venue and say no without realising exactly what it involves. My mum agrees with him.

I don’t see the issue to be honest. Loads of the wee girls have their nails painted for fun. They have glitter tattoos and face painting at all the parties.

But I don’t want to make the wrong call and I am quite happy to be told that this is not a good move. Any thoughts?

Sorry but I would be very reluctant for my 4yo to attend to be honest. Kids grow up far too quickly these days and are so image conscious (some of the Year 7's I work with could pass for 16, they look like little Kardashians) and I have no wish to accelerate the process further.

I thi kits a bit grown up for 4 year olds. Some of the big toy shops do princess parties I think, sure hamleys does it. Obviously depending on your budget though, I think it's quite pricey.

My dd likes painting her nails and glitter face etc but I don’t really like to encourage it and I agree that the fumes in the salon would put me off. Other ideas could be trampolining, a princess visit type of party... it’s quite difficult to avoid soft play in December but I do like the fact that it tires them out and it’s active rather than sitting about doing nails.

Do the boys and girls not mix? To me it is beyond depressing to have a party based on 'looking pretty'.

Find somewhere that does pottery painting or cupcake decorating or something. Equally enjoyed by girlie girls and less controversial.

I wouldn't let my 4 year old daughter go, I don't think I could cope with seeing her in a salon chair getting dolled up. She's got her birthday booked at a soft play place. 2 hours of running wild with her friends, party food & cake, then more playing. It's £10 a head. I think you sound absolutely lovely, with the best of intentions. Hope she has a lovely birthday regardless.

They do mix but the girls are pretty close. At the last party they sat together talking about their dresses. I’ve never seen anything like it.

It doesn’t bother me though. DD loves to draw and paint. She loves books. She does gymnastics. She gets plenty of time outdoors. She loves animals and nature. Shes bright and engaged. so I don’t have an issue indulging her if she wants her nails painted or her room painted pink or to wear her Disney princess dresses 24/7.

However, I think I’m going to do something else instead. Majority seems to be against it and I really don’t want to do something inappropriate. I can be naive on these things sometimes.

DH feels it’s too “adult” and that, as someone said above, “they grow up too fast as it is”.

No, not for me. Plenty of time for that when they are older. I have no objections to the face paints, and glitter tattoo but not in a beauty salon setting. What about Princess dress up party. Get a load of princess dress up stuff from eBay. Beg and borrow, tiaras and boas and dump all in the middle of the room and let them dress up. Hire a face painter and rope in a friend to do the tattoos. Set up a photo wall and take lots if photos of the girls and send to the mums.

We did this. Lady came the house and did it all.

It was great.

Was glitter tattoos, foot spas, hair styling, dressing up.
Was great

She's only 3 and they all talk about dresses?

Honestly, OP, it's one thing painting her toenails every now and then and having this sort of party at that age.

What about a magician coming to the house? I did that with my children for a few years and they all loved it.

House is too small. There is nowhere to put them.

Do the village hall again but take DD to get a little make over before her party so she looks like a sparkly princess

My dd has always been very girly and would have loved a party like that at 4. If your dd will enjoy it, perhaps chat to some of the mums at nursery and gauge a reaction, I don't really understand the issue tbh.

Cheaper I love that idea 😊

I thought about speaking to the mums. They seem a nice enough bunch. My concern however is that they all politely nod along and say yes sounds fun and then no one comes. DD talks non stop about birthday parties and I can’t let that happen.

I have no understanding of why painting pottery is intrinsically more valuable or acceptable than painting pottery.

I'd be fine with this op.

Shit

Than painting NAILS

I would not politely and say that sounds lovely. But I'd also be too busy to attend when the invites were sent.

We did a pamper party for DD one year, but they were all quite a lot older - about 9 or 10. And we did it at home.

We made facemasks out of avocado (which was a REALLY bad idea, cos a couple of them got quite red in the face); we did soaking their hands and feet (and a couple of very flushed faces) in porridge oats, which was lovely.
We had cucumber slices to put over their eyes (they mostly just ate the cucumber)

And we dyed their hair crazy colours from spray (wash out) cans.

And we had face and nail glitter.

Then they got bored and played twister.

So you could do a version of what you're thinking. In a hall if your house is too small. I'd be amazed if 3 - 4 yr olds found that fun for 2 hours though.

My DS went to a 4yr olds pamper party. He loved it! They did the party in their garden as it was summer so there was a bouncy castle too - just the children who wanted their nails done, little tattoos or foot spas had it and it was really lovely. Could you find a mobile technician and do a few craft activities or a bouncy castle too? Also, the beauty therapist had specific nail polish etc for the children so fumes weren’t a problem.

My daughters 7 and she would hate this kind of party and wouldn't go. There's something a little uncomfortable about beautifying a 4 year old- they are already beautiful and will be even more so wreaking havoc on a bouncy castle in the local hall.

Sounds good as a one off. My 4 year old loves nail varnish and glitter tattoos but doesn't do it often.

Do you live near a Lush? They do parties (making bathbombs, games with the products) might be a good in between?

Jeez, just no!!