Most children love playing dress-up with old clothes and occasionally face paint and light makeup but when kids start wearing makeup in public, parents can be a little overwhelmed as this is a big developmental milestone. Whether parents like it or not children start to have a bit more control over their lives as they get older. Learning to wear makeup can be an exciting yet potentially stressful moment for children and for parents!
As children continue to mature intellectually, physically, emotionally, and socially they start to become more responsible and accountable for their actions. During this time parents often influence their decisions and give advice on issues involving their children’s health and safety. But what about makeup? This can be a grey area for parents. With no right or wrong answers, it can be hard to navigate this milestone, that could result in heated arguments which will only hurt the child/parent relationship and make the issue worse.
Here are some tips for what to do when your child wants to start wearing makeup.
1. Communicate
Like every tricky situation, the best thing to do is to communicate with your children. Either sit down as a family or one-on-one with your child (whichever feels most comfortable for your family) and open the conversation about makeup. Let your children know that you understand and appreciate their interest in makeup and dressing up and that while they are at home they can experiment with crazy outfits and outrageous makeup as much as they would like. Talk to them about the responsibilities and steps that can come with makeup. A great first step is face wash and facial products. Teaching them about keeping their skin healthy is an important stage with acne and blackheads just around the corner. A good next step is a tinted lip balm that can give a little colour and gloss to your child’s lips without the full-blown look of lipstick.
2. Setting Limits
Every child is different and flat out forbidding the use of makeup will only make your child hide it from you. When they first start wearing makeup you can set limits so they can wear makeup at certain times and places. For instance letting them wear makeup to a birthday party on Saturday or for a school picture. Your child will feel like you are allowing them to grow even by letting them wear simple lip-glosses, body fragrances, hand creams and nail polishes.
3. Starting to Wear Makeup
When the time arrives to teach your child about wearing makeup outside the house, take them to a department or cosmetic store (wherever you feel most comfortable) where a beauty consultant can show them how to apply makeup in a way that enhances natural beauty but doesn’t make her look too painted. Age can be irrelevant since everyone matures at different times if they are taught how to apply the natural look it will carry them all the way into adulthood without looking too over the top. Constantly applying and removing makeup can be harsh on the face. Start slowly, introducing makeup and playing with it at home can be a great way to find out what is most flattering for your child.
4. Beauty Without Makeup
Remind your child that they are beautiful exactly as they are. Although makeup can enhance our outer beauty nothing is more beautiful than self-confidence and being a good person. Remember to tell them they are beautiful no matter what. Having a strong self-esteem will help guide your child in any of the fads, trends, and styles they decide to pursue.
