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

[EllHell]

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?

Whatever happened to the catalogue for cards and wrapping paper that most Guide and Brownie packs used to use for fund-raising? This is total cobblers and I'd be unhappy if it were a group my daughter went to.

Agnes

Not on at all. And I'd be surprised if it sat comfortably with the Body Shop's ethics, too.

Madness

YANBU at all. Yuck, yuck.
£50 prize bit is totally inappropriate
Little girls and moisturiser?

Is it because Body Shop are supposed to be ethical that they're getting away with this? Would brownies do it if it was L'Oreal or whoever?

Colditz that dove film made me cry! I must be very very tired.

hello, and nice to see you back, not seen you around on MN for a while hercules (was formerly mummytosteven)

Does the Body Shop still have ethics then? Having been bought by L'Oreal?

I can see why parents don't like this idea, and have to admit that I don't have children this age so can't really comment from that perspective,
BUT I used to love Body Shop stuff when I was little - I seem to recall I was buying/being bought stuff from there from about 6. They have some nice stuff aimed at children, or used to anyway, and it's not (wasn't) cosmetic-y stuff, just soap and bubble bath, things like that. IIRC all me and my friends at primary had little lip balms from the Body Shop. I always thought their stuff was aimed at younger people - children/young teens.

Meant to also say - putting 6yr olds on commission is pretty awful.

Indeed mindalina. Though I think they still purport to .....

IMO your DD has years ahead of her trying to think of excuses as to why she can't attend someones partylite, tupperware, bodyshop etc parties without having to do it when she's 5!

Don't like the idea at all. When DDs went to Rainbows and Brownies they used to occasionally come home with a catalogue (or more usually just a note saying a catalogue was available on request) for various things, usually chocoholics. I had no problem with this as the pack made a commission and the hostess gift was saved for raffle prizes or tombolas. But there was no obligation to sit through some boring demonstration.

thanks mindalina was trying to say that..very very tired.

Blimey... Do I get some sort of prize for the only AIBU thread ever to have total consensus!?

I will order a few bits and bats from the catalogue (to give the SIL I don't like for Christmas [hhmm]) and won't send dd that week. I do think it's been done genuinely but unthinkingly as a way of raising some funds, but I definitely think it's A Bad Idea. I'll mention to the leaders that I think the prize is unfair too and will suggest that they give a little prize to all the girls who attend (not my dd then!) instead.

That film made me shudder, colditz. God, I loathe the 'beauty industry'. [shudder]

Thanks all!

sorely tempted to name-change and yabu you to spoil consensus..

mindalina you had exactly the same thought as me re. l'oreal thing. I think the day they bought it the Body SHop ethics flew out the window.

My dd is 4 and loves bubbly baths and Ickle baby bath blitzers from Lush but she is baffled as to why I put cream etc on thinks it is stupid. I am happy for her to feel like that, she doesn't need to start messing with her skin like that for many years to come.

I do agree that it is probably just an ill thought out best of intentions situation and it may be worth having a quiet word with the leaders to raise your objections and I doubt you are alone in them

A prize for the biggest/a big order???

YANBU!!!!