Is this really what primary school kids are like?

[HopelesslyNaive98]

Colleague’s child recently had their 8th birthday. Photos they posted showed child receiving make up from fairly pricy brands (ie. Sephora, Benefit etc.), beauty blenders snd similar, Uggs, and a Stanley cup. Birthday outing appeared to involve having make up done in store, more make up shopping, and clothes shopping in teen/adult focused shops.

Don’t get me wrong, I was desperate to put on a bit of make up as a little girl but it was a bit of body glitter and some lip gloss that came free with a Top of the Pops magazine. Equally clothes were Gap Kids and H&M, not River Island and Lipsy.

My kids are 7 and 6 so maybe I’m just totally naive about what’s to come. I just thought there was a few more years of childhood left!

Unfortunately it is getting more common. I do know kids who are similar ages or a little older who aren’t into makeup and skincare but they are definitely a minority.
My now just adult dd has said she expects this generation to end up with the worst skin ever and aging badly. This is because some are using products totally unsuitable for their skin.

I'm not sure this is new really, I remember there being some girls that were like this when I was at primary school in the 90s...
I don't think it's the majority of kids at all, I don't know any of my 8 year olds friends or class that are into this stuff. Parties are still soft play or lazer quest type parties.

I mean I wasn't into this stuff at 8, but I'm still not now at 37. But other 8 year old girls in my year 4 class in the 90s definitely we're. I doubt they were bought expensive brands but they were definitely wearing make up and pretending to be the Spice Girls and some kids were girlfriend/boyfriend by that age. I guess it's a sort of more grown up version of dressing up as pirates or princesses?

Well my 8 year old is not in to make up. She enjoys playing with her toys still and I absolutely want to encourage thay for as long as possible. She has never worn make up and never asked to. I think her friends are the same. I saw a couple of little girls about the same age when out shopping talking about the skin care and make up they had just bought and it made me shudder. Kids are being forced to grow up too fast and I feel social media has a lot to answer for. I saw an 8 year old "influencer" talking about what skin care kids should be using. They are 8! The only skin care should be soap and water!

Some are. Makes me glad i have boys to be honest. When my 14 year old has friends over they are usually all out on the trampoline.

Also I can imagine if I asked my dd if she wanted a Stanley cup for her birthday she'd think I'd gone mad buying a cup for her birthday! 😆

I don't think most girls are getting expensive makeup brands for their 8th birthdays, to be honest. I have a niece, now 13, who now never leaves the house without makeup and false eyelashes, but at 8 she was still very much into running around outdoors and playing with Lego, her baby doll, and her endless collection of craft kits.

I was at primary school in the 1980s and there were always a few girls in my class who were into very 'grown-up' stuff, dressed like adults, wore makeup and (showing my age here) had perms. There are a few photos in my mum's albums of my 10th birthday party and it's basically a dozen girls who look like 10-year-olds and two who are wearing makeup and dressed like they're 17.

For a start I will say that I would not be having that and if my DD asked for these things it would be a no. We also don’t see this in our circle in regards to birthday parties.. the most “out there” being a clip n climb party which felt very grown up for my kids 🤣

Regarding your colleague, it is their child. They can parent them and spend money on them how they wish. As as long as they aren’t abusive/neglectful etc it’s not really anyone’s place to judge that (even when we disagree)

DD's are 10&12. Neither wear, buy or show any interest in make up.

My daughter (12) has friends that were wearing false eyelashes and fake nails and a bit of makeup. I asked dd if she wanted to do her nails, wear a little makeup. She looked at me with that 'mum dont be silly' look and said 'no, im only 12'.
These are the same girls that also play with Sylvanian Families, Monster High dolls and Littlest Petshop, so part kid, part teenager in the making!!

I know one family like this but only one.

My daughters think they are ridiculous because you can't chuck them in your bag... so you have to carry them around upright. So daft and impractical.

Yes! My son also moans about them in school because if you are a drinks bottle monitor they don't stay in the drinks box so you have to go back to collect them and carry them out separately (at their school at lunchtime the children are not allowed back in the classrooms so drinks need to go onto the playground).

A friend's child is 8 and had little high heels on to go to the school disco

It's all just a bit sad I find

Not normal in my area. Urban but very middle class, professional parents, broadly quite anti phones/social media etc. I would be judged hard by school parents if I hosted that kind of party and I expect a lot would decline to send their children. As would I if my daughter was invited to that kind of party in year 3.

I hate to say it but round here it would be seen as really chavvy.

I think that's quite unusual for an 8 year old, even in this modern tiktok obsessed world! Maybe she has older siblings? I had two older sisters and they used to do my hair and makeup for parties or just for fun and do homemade face packs and stuff.

I think that from 8yrs upwards, kids can be very polarised in their maturity. Some will still be playing with toys others will be keen to be mini teens. It’s usually linked to social media use or older siblings.

We had a Y7 disco at school last week - the array of outfits was mind-boggling - from taffeta party dresses to trainers and bodycon. It was like the kids were headed to completely disparate activities! It really reflected how each friendship group was at a different stage of maturity, despite being in the same year group.

I'd say unusual for age 8. That's more common once they're at secondary, but even then there are girls who won't be exposed to beauty influencers.

It's a good indicator of who has access to TikTok, I'd say.

My daughter is 9 and she is still into Lego, teddies, craft etc and so is her friends but I think they are kids in her class moving in that direction. I think a lot of it is down to tick tok and Instagram, older siblings etc.

This is pretty standard for a LOT of 8 year old girls I think. The deciding factor is whether or not they have a phone and relatively free access to the internet. Once they have that, this is exactly where they end up super quickly. Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube - all full of GRWM and unboxing vids etc. It’s all skincare routines and Starbucks, Stanley cups and Lululemon crossbody bags, WhiteFox hoodies, trips to Space NK etc.

My daughter would love this for her birthday but I’m trying to hold off as much as possible, as she’s still too young.

I let her play around with make up at home but don’t let her wear it out (bar a little bit of shimmery lip gloss for special occasions Eg a party etc). I certainly don’t buy her the expensive branded make up, though, she gets Primark and the like lol.

Shes also into Sephora so I’ve ordered her some Christmas bath products (bath bombs and shower gel etc) so she’s still getting the stuff but in a more age appropriate way. She’s actually becoming a bit of a shower dodger (age 10) so maybe this might encourage her to want to wash again.

Well no, your last sentence is incorrect. For white children perhaps, but you didnt say that.

I’ve seen this in my daughter’s school starting even in her class (she is only year 2!) and I’d say it’s the same kids who went mad for labubu’s i.e allowed on tik tok OR have older sisters in year 6

Edit: I’ve known some girls in the year above her who had hot tub and mocktail birthday parties in the summer. Photos uploaded of them all posing in the hot tub in their bikinis and mocktails. Just icky

My 10 year old god daughter is nothing like this
thankfully. But then shes not allowed a mobile, TikTok etc. her Xmas list has a stable set
to build with some horses and lots of Lego.

Nope- my daughter is 8 and loves make up and Stanley- and she isn’t getting either branded: a primark cup or entertainer make
up- sure. Her last bday party was a craft and pamper party but it was all quite childish and pretend. I think it’s sad to give so much to such young children