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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

... to think that it's inappropriate to use 5-year-olds to sell cosmetics

41 replies

EllHell · 30/10/2007 22:34

DD1 has just started going to Rainbows. Just got a note sent home (with a Body Shop catalogue) to say that a future week's meeting is going to be dedicated to a Body Shop event, where a lady will come and demonstrate their products, the girls can give a parent a hand massage and [and this is the bit I object to] any girl who places an order worth over £50 will get a special prize.

I don't mind the catalogue at all. 10% of the money raised will go to the Rainbow and Brownie packs involved, so it's a good way of fund-raising. But I do object to the fact that 5-year-olds are being promised 'a prize' (basically 'commission'!) if they sell over £50-worth of stuff.

I am also slightly at how interesting a Body Shop demonstration is actually going to be for 5-7-year-olds. I heard the Rainbow leader telling them that 'a lady is going to come and show us some nice moisturisers and things'. Do 6-year-olds use moisturiser? As far as mine are concerned I could wash their hair with carbolic soap and it'd be all the same to them. I'd understand it more if it was teenagers, but not Infant-age kids.

I am thinking of just not sending dd that week and doing something else nice with her instead. I'm not furious about this or anything... it just seems a bit odd to me. Or is it just me that's odd?

OP posts:
controlfreaky2 · 30/10/2007 22:38

you are not odd. sounds total bollocks.... and cheeky with it.

popmum · 30/10/2007 22:41

agree, sounds crazy. have a word with the leader

Scoobi6 · 30/10/2007 22:42

Don't think I'd like that. I don't believe 5-7 year olds should be encouraged to take an interest in cosmetics, they should be playing and getting mucky

And the pressure to sell over £50 worth is just plain dodgy imo

Original poster
EllHell · 30/10/2007 22:43

Yeah. I don't want to make a scene, because it's obviously a good fund-raising opportunity for them, but I think I'll mention why I won't be sending dd that week. I can still order s'thing from the catalogue.

OP posts:
unknownrebelbang · 30/10/2007 22:44

I'm guessing the leaders have just seen it as a way of fundraising for the group, without thinking about other issues.

Original poster
EllHell · 30/10/2007 22:44

Glad other people agree with me. I am 40 and not that into cosmetics and things even now, so wondered if I was just being fuddy-duddy.

OP posts:
mybabysinthegarden · 30/10/2007 22:45

YANBU: my dd's toddler group is having a Body Shop party to raise funds but it's in the evening and the dcs are definitely not invited!

SmileSam · 30/10/2007 22:48

Outrageous! Can't they fund raise by making mugs/pots with handprints on them or something? Little girls grow up too quickly as it is. Have the leaders gone mad? I think the girls will be bored and you're right not to send your daughter - it's a shame more parents don't make a stand. (I'll get off my soapbox now!)

kinderBOOsurprise · 30/10/2007 22:48

YANBU. If they would like to raise funds why are they not doing a party with the mums? I would not be happy with this, what do 6yo girls need to know about moisturisers for?

Original poster
EllHell · 30/10/2007 22:51

Think the idea is that the mums go along too (hence the hand massage idea). But it's hard for anyone who has other children to just drop everything and go out at 5.30 in the evening.

OP posts:
MeltingandScreamingIcarus · 30/10/2007 23:11

Sounds like one of the mums is trying to earn some money for xmas to me tbh.

ScaryScienceT · 31/10/2007 07:45

YANBU

(especially because the stuff is so crap)

lizziemun · 31/10/2007 07:56

YANBU

If they must something with bodyshop, why don't they do something about how the money they get from the business goes back into helping people in poorer countries IYKWIM.

LoveAngel · 31/10/2007 08:13

YANBU. How ridiculous. Complain.

Lazarou · 31/10/2007 08:16

I detest body shop products, they're awful. I think the company is struggling because the last time i went in the shop assistant did an amazing hard sell on me and convinced me to buy some stuff that I didn't even want, and that's unusual for me.

colditz · 31/10/2007 08:16

I am actually horrified at this!

How about show the rainbows leaders

this

casbie · 31/10/2007 08:59

bloddy hell - would avoid totally!

perpetualworrier · 31/10/2007 09:19

You're absolutely right. Kids this aged should be taught no-one needs this muck.

However, having been involved with a similar children's group, I also know how hard it is to arrange fund raising events that actually make enough money to make the effort worthwhile.

Talk to the leader, they probably haven't seen beyond the opportunity to raise some funds. Have you got any better ideas for them?

katwith3kittens · 31/10/2007 09:24

Very odd I agree. I dont think the leaders could have thought it through properly, but i would give them the benefit of the doubt this time, they are unpaid volunteers who give up their time so we can drop our DDs off with them for an hour or so

I would explain why DD wont be going and ask for a catalog anyway and leave it at that. However if it happens again, you might need to look for a different group.

MrsLynetteScavo · 31/10/2007 09:27

I would just not take her that week. My DC's wouldn't be able to test the products anyway, as their skin is too sensitive. I do think the bit about getting a prize is well out of order, though. It will be the children from more well-of familes who end up with a prize, I would imagine.

TotalChaos · 31/10/2007 09:29

YANBU.

Tommy · 31/10/2007 09:33

YANBU - surely the leaders should have arranged another evening for this and just invited the Mums? I'm sure they would have plenty of interest

bozza · 31/10/2007 09:33

The prize for the £50 order bit is what I don't like. Presumably this is the hostess gift. Would be much better to raffle it or whatever.

kslatts · 31/10/2007 09:41

Does seem odd, surely it would be better to organise this just for the parents, maybe in another room while the children are at rainbows.

catsmother · 31/10/2007 09:44

This does seem inappropriate .... I don't understand what a demonstration for 5-7 year olds would entail exactly. My 4 year old daughter loves sniffing "smellies" if they smell like strawberries or something else she recognises, and enjoys a bubble bath like most kids but would have no interest in facials, moisturisers etc. It's not exactly the work of the devil in the grander scale of things but I wouldn't be too happy about her attending a demo and then maybe thinking afterwards that she "needs" some sort of "beauty" routine. She's far too young for that - and, IMO, pretty enough without any artificial enhancement IYKWIM. Certainly no need for conventional moisturisers in that age group ... if DD gets a bit of dry skin, I use E45 or similar.

The £50 prize thing is ill-thought out too. I'm not against competitions but I think a prize should be earnt ..... the biggest order won't be because of anything the children themselves have done will it ?

Maybe print out this thread and show it to the leaders ?