Many parents have expressed their concerns regarding their kids showing interests in wearing makeup at an early age.
Some think they should not use makeup until at least they are in high school. However, some parents are fine with their preschoolers wearing it to pretend play and also going to school.
Everyone’s definition for early is different. So, how should you define early? Truthfully, there is no age that can be classified as too early when it comes to makeup. It is totally up to you as a parent, to decide what is best for both you and your kids.
Keep in mind that your reaction to what your kids are wearing or want to wear is the most important thing. Below are some tips and tricks that you can try:
How Should Parents React if Our Kids Are Interested in Playing with Makeup?
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Compromise with them
Compromising goes a long way. It works both ways in whether you are trying to permit them or you are prohibiting their interest for now.
If you allow them to wear makeup, you can tell them that they are only allowed to wear makeup to parties or just play at home and not to school.
If you don’t want them to wear it, tell them that they have to wait until a certain age before they are free to do whatever they want.
Why do some people so against young kids wearing makeup?
- Some people might over sexualise them.
- They would feel inferior if they go out bare-faced.
- They will feel like they are too “adult” for their own age.
- Society is still sceptical with young kids wearing makeup.
For parents who are okay with their kids using makeup at a young age, perhaps you can set some rules for them. These are some of the rules that you use:
Set some rules for them to adhere:
- Use only light makeup when they are going out. This is mainly because there are some people out there that might judge if they found out that you encourage your kids to wear makeup at a very young age. This is fine because everyone has their own beliefs. So to satisfy everyone, tell them to go for a tinted lip balm first instead of a bright red lipstick. You may don’t want to introduce dark eyeliners or dramatic eye shadow look to them.
- Safety first! Choose makeup that is suitable for their skin. Ensure that the makeup that they are using is safe for their skin and it won’t cause any allergic reaction on their skin.
- Make sure that they know their intention for wearing makeup. Makeup can be a way for them to express their creativity but some parents are worried that their kids might feel inferior in their own skin. Hence, making them feel insecure about themselves. What you can do is to tell them that they are beautiful with or without makeup.
Makeup is really fun to play with and we can also express ourselves in a more creative way. Moreover, kids also start to get interested in makeup because they see their parents use them every day before they go out. So, it is quite understandable that they want to experience it by themselves.