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Original poster

Is this really what primary school kids are like?

237 replies

HopelesslyNaive98 · 29/10/2025 09:06

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!

OP posts:
HeyThereDelila · 29/10/2025 14:05

It won’t be something I’d allow for my DD. No, not typical of the primary school girls I see at DS’s school.

Letskeepcalm · 29/10/2025 14:07

MoreIcedLattePlease · 29/10/2025 09:15

Only the ones whose parents don’t control their social media access appropriately.

Agree
Indeed, its the ones who are obviously actively encouraged by parents

NeckHurting · 29/10/2025 14:10

Debtdolly · 29/10/2025 13:15

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.

How does a 10y old get ‘into Sephora’?

Letskeepcalm · 29/10/2025 14:12

Of all the things you could be encouraging an 8 year old to be interested in, beauty, looks etc is pretty frightening. We're told constantly of the pervs that are looking at children for heaven sake.

namechangetheworld · 29/10/2025 14:14

I have two DDs (6 and 10) who sometimes enjoy messing around with (kids) makeup and doing each others hair, but equally enjoy crafts, Barbies and playing make-believe games.

Youngest (who is very girly) was invited to a spa day for a friend's 4th birthday a few years ago and was bored shitless, as was the birthday girl. The party had definitely been planned by the Mum with little regard to what 4 year olds actually enjoy.

ManteesRock · 29/10/2025 14:16

Gannety · 29/10/2025 09:13

I think there is a lot of social media influence here - if young girls have access to tiktok or instagram they will see a lot of content in the form of 'get ready with me' and 'my daily routine' type videos, all using expensive brands. It normalises the idea that young people should be using these things. When I was young there was advertising for luxury makeup brands of course, but they weren't targeted at kids the way social media can be.

I think it's fine and important to resist it, even when kids are asking for it. An eight year old girl will destroy her skin barrier using harsh products, and it's a lot of money for something objectively unnecessary.

It's nothing to do with social media influence or parents it's the child.
I couldn't give a shit about make-up, skin care routine etc. And my DD 9 doesn't have access to social media but her Christmas list consists of make-up and skin care. She's sees the items in shops, she sees girls in TV programmes wearing make-up etc.

Gannety · 29/10/2025 14:20

ManteesRock · 29/10/2025 14:16

It's nothing to do with social media influence or parents it's the child.
I couldn't give a shit about make-up, skin care routine etc. And my DD 9 doesn't have access to social media but her Christmas list consists of make-up and skin care. She's sees the items in shops, she sees girls in TV programmes wearing make-up etc.

Show quote history

the idea that little girls should be slathering themselves in expensive skincare and makeup doesn't come from nowhere, so I would be investigating what content she is consuming and from where. I would also not be buying it for her just because it's what she has asked for.

SailingYachty · 29/10/2025 14:21

My 7 year old wants a spa themed party for her next birthday, she likes the idea of make up etc but she plays with dolls, loves craft, playgrounds etc. she’s not going to be hanging around in a Sephora anytime soon. My 9 year old has a fake Stanley as the girls at school have that shape water bottle, and has some fake uggs, but is still a big tree climber and loves her skateboard! I’m just thinking you can have a balance of wanting to try stuff out, but they have plenty of time to play and be kids too.

RomeoRivers · 29/10/2025 14:22

No to expensive make up, but my DDs have been wearing River Island and Lipsy since birth- they do gorgeous kids clothes!

legalseagull · 29/10/2025 14:23

Never heard of 8 year olds like this. My daughter turns 8 in a few weeks and she’s getting a much desired baby doll!

legalseagull · 29/10/2025 14:24

She does like a lip gloss mind you.

Radiator981 · 29/10/2025 14:24

If can be depends on parents and values, I think I managed to keep my eldest off this stuff til she was about 13.

Hmmmmwineandchocs · 29/10/2025 14:25

My 9yr old isn’t like that, birthday gifts were gymnastics equipment, Christmas a Jellycat, Bitzee and some crafty bits.
She likes a bit of make up when we go to the pub/for dinner/school disco.
I keep reminding her she has a long time to adult but only a short time to be a child.
Birthday parties we’ve been to have been swimming/trampoline/indoor climbing/indoor obstacle course type thing.

usedtobeaylis · 29/10/2025 14:28

It's up there with the whole 'B&M haul' type stuff for cleaning products - social media driven consumption. Ime some kids are like that, most aren't. Among the girls my daughter hangs around with none of them have much access to social media and none of them are into makeup except normal experimentation.

DontGoJasonWaterfalls · 29/10/2025 14:28

I took DD out of school in Year 5 but from start of Year 4 onwards, the girls had been split into two very clear categories - a group of girls who had phones and were on WhatsApp and TikTok and were using expensive skincare, makeup etc, very much encouraged by their mothers (the two girls doing it the most both had mothers who had a few boys before them, very much vibes of "I've been waiting for a girl to do all the girly things with" sort of thing).

Then the girls who had zero interest in it at all. A really wide range of interests in that group - sports, music, horses, anime etc. I'd say it's an even split.

DD is 11 now; I saw yesterday on Facebook that one of the girls from her old school was taken on an eye watering shopping spree in Sephora, and the make up is just piled on. I worry for her skin in ten/twenty years time.

I used to worry a lot that I was holding DD back by not encouraging make up and skincare (water and soap works perfectly for her, obviously that won't be the case for every skin type) and social media, but I'm really pleased we've held firm. She loves Lego and reading and coding and climbing; her interests are so diverse and varied and I think that will serve her well.

usedtobeaylis · 29/10/2025 14:30

DontGoJasonWaterfalls · 29/10/2025 14:28

I took DD out of school in Year 5 but from start of Year 4 onwards, the girls had been split into two very clear categories - a group of girls who had phones and were on WhatsApp and TikTok and were using expensive skincare, makeup etc, very much encouraged by their mothers (the two girls doing it the most both had mothers who had a few boys before them, very much vibes of "I've been waiting for a girl to do all the girly things with" sort of thing).

Then the girls who had zero interest in it at all. A really wide range of interests in that group - sports, music, horses, anime etc. I'd say it's an even split.

DD is 11 now; I saw yesterday on Facebook that one of the girls from her old school was taken on an eye watering shopping spree in Sephora, and the make up is just piled on. I worry for her skin in ten/twenty years time.

I used to worry a lot that I was holding DD back by not encouraging make up and skincare (water and soap works perfectly for her, obviously that won't be the case for every skin type) and social media, but I'm really pleased we've held firm. She loves Lego and reading and coding and climbing; her interests are so diverse and varied and I think that will serve her well.

That's the thing, it's not healthy skincare. These kids are using adult products on their baby skin. We know what too much makeup and product does to adult skin! My daughter does have dry skin from swimming and we use the most basic stuff. It's a battle to get her to wash her face never mind anything else. Long may her childhood continue.

FakeItUntilIMakeIt · 29/10/2025 14:36

My DD is due to turn 8 soon. She wants a build a bear party. She would desperately like make up (she’s been obsessed since she was two). If she is lucky she might get a Disney Princess play make up set set since DS ruined her last one. Most of it was used to makeover various family member both male and female (we all ended up looking like clowns) or she put make up on her dolls. She also wants some more Barbie clothes.

There is no way I would by my daughter adult makeup or skincare.

Giggles1773 · 29/10/2025 14:36

I had a sleepover, makeup with The bodyshop at my house and a photo shoot for my daughters birthday BUT It was her 14th Birthday NOT 8 at 8 they went bowling!!

Rituelec · 29/10/2025 14:38

Favouritefruits · 29/10/2025 09:12

There’s always one child in the class that’s ’grown Up’ and a mini version of their parents but most 8year old still like Barbie, Claire’s and having a bed time story!

This!

BoringBarbie · 29/10/2025 14:39

I don't think so.

DD is 5 and as girlie as they come. She loves to play "spa" at home, which involves sitting on a beanbag with her feet in a bowl of warm water and bubble bath whilst watching a movie. She also likes it when I paint her nails and putting sparkly eyeshadow all over her face. Sometimes she even gets some of it on her eyelids.

She doesn't know what Sephora, Uggs or Stanley cups are. She plays with some girls from up the road and they're older and more streetwise than her, and have unlimited screen/SM time, but they've never mentioned any of that either.

I think maybe some families are very into all that and the parents are into designer labels and fancy skin care bought on the never-never, and the kids are going to catch onto it and think they need all that stuff. I don't think it's typical.

Bambamhoohoo · 29/10/2025 14:39

I think it’s a bit… simplistic? Dangerous? To blame TikTok or even social media more widely. My daughter has neither, I could probably guess a few children in her class who might be able to access it but it's not common place.

trends don’t have to come from TikTok you know. Open your eyes in the shopping centre and you’ll see where the excitement and consumerism comes from.

Isitbedtimexx · 29/10/2025 14:41

Sadly it is, my daughter is coming up for 9 and has asked for a my generation doll! I love that. She's also got a sparkle sequin jacket, robot she can build and a few other bits. Staying well clear of expensive make up, skin care etc!

neverbeenskiing · 29/10/2025 14:42

I work in a primary school. This is absolutely not typical for an 8 year old, but unfortunately this nonsense is becoming more common by Year 5 and 6.

The girls who are obsessed with skincare, buying expensive make up, carrying their PE kit to school in a Victoria's Secret bag etc at my school are invariably the same girls who are were given a smartphone from an early age and are already allowed on Tik Tok, Insta and WhatsApp.

Han86 · 29/10/2025 14:42

Bambamhoohoo · 29/10/2025 14:39

I think it’s a bit… simplistic? Dangerous? To blame TikTok or even social media more widely. My daughter has neither, I could probably guess a few children in her class who might be able to access it but it's not common place.

trends don’t have to come from TikTok you know. Open your eyes in the shopping centre and you’ll see where the excitement and consumerism comes from.

Also it's word of mouth and seeing peers with items.

As I said, my kids have never caught onto big trends (yet). I remember when prime was really popular I assumed my kids just didn't know what it was as we didn't watch YouTube (or wherever it came from) but my son did know and talked about classmates having it (but didn't actually ask for it himself).

Trallers · 29/10/2025 14:43

At my school there are a few 8/9/10 year old that perhaps fall into this category. Most don't though so I wouldn't say it's the norm. Of the ones that do, they seem to be following in the footsteps of very glamorous mums who are always (as in at all school pick ups/drops offs/school events) dressed up and made up, so my assumption is that it's parent encouraged to at least some extent. The girls that stand out to me as being very make-up/appearance oriented in their interests at a young age are also very insecure in my narrow experience, plus seem to be in more volatile friendahip groups which feels really sad. Worrying about if you need to go and put on more lipgloss during the school day at 9 isn't healthy.