Painted Tots

OK, I'm going into Mary Whitehouse mode again but YES there is too much, too young.

Personally I want thinner legs, browner skin, a flatter stomach, a bigger bust, shinier hair - need I go on?

Rosie wants a Milky Bar for her Friday treat, to dance along to her Zingzillas album and for Charles to pretend she's a horse. Long may it continue. I know there will come the day when some secondary school bitches are telling her she's got legs too skinny/fat, shoes too square/slutty and a skirt too long/short but for now we're on a mission to swerve clear, with some gusto, away from such pathetic and shallow concerns.

This week's Phoebe Mary Whitehouse Doyle concern is with make-up for 3 year olds. I'm not saying my 3 year old doesn't wear make-up. In fact he (yes he) does fairly often. In fact, just the other week I remembered, whilst he was at Playgroup, he's been putting foundation powder on his cheeks that morning, which I'd not removed. My 6 year old, she puts my lipstick on, moans about my lack of blusher, and goes for the bluest of blue on her eyes. It's fine, it's pretending. It's just that I'm not going to buy it for them. 


To me, it's similar to the gun issue. Parents may say, "well if I don't buy him one, he'll only make one out of Lego". This is true, and it's fine, and it doesn't mean they'll grow up to be murderers for sure. It can open a discussion though, like, "Is that a gun you've made? Hmm, I don't like guns much myself". No big deal really. If you buy them one though you're saying "aren't guns fun. You should play with a gun kid".


So with make-up - let them play. But selling kids shoes with make-up, marketing make-up specifically for toddlers - what's the message? Ok it may not harm them, but does it really do them any good either?  Informing our girls that fun can be found through products, that their appearance is better after a little painting, tweaking and bronzing, can't really be the right choice for mindful parenting.