I saw a news report the other day talking about the fact that Walmart is going to start selling make- up designed for 8 year old girls.
Really?
Surely they were kidding. Maybe it was an idea and not a true happening. But no, it is real. Make – up for 8 year olds.
It brought back memories of a report I heard years ago about a company who made thong underwear for toddlers. Yes, you read that right. Thong underwear for toddlers and little girls.
Really?
As a mother of 3 young daughters, I want to stand up, after hearing about these items, and scream “STOP IT AMERICA!” What in the world are we thinking to steal yet more innocence from our children?
As if our kids are not growing up fast enough? With sex talk and acts taking place in elementary and junior high schools, children parading around in mid drift shirts and mini skirts at age 6, and kids movies having definite adult undercurrents and comments. “I like your “ascot”…. really?
I am sick of it! Stop trying to take my girl’s childhood from them! Please! I am having a hard enough time teaching them self respect and self approval without having these things introduced to them when they are so young!
Look, kids have only, what -18 years to be a “young”? And with peer pressure, media exposure, and their own battles with who they are centering around their teen years, their innocence lessens it even more. So, why, pray tell, are companies trying to make their childhood even shorter?
Are we that hard up for money? That we have to exploit our children’s youth to make some? It is disgusting enough that child pedophilia is on the rise, child pornography still makes billions a year, and internet predators get smarter by the day. Why in the world would I dress up my 8 year old in mascara and lipstick and send her out to be exploited even more?
So, as a concerned mother to 3 young daughters, trying to navigate them through the competitive world of popularity contests, self image fragility, and learning to stand up for themselves – STOP IT AMERICA!
Cherish the innocence of the young! And instead of making them grow up too fast, make your money learning a thing or two about respecting their childhoods!
I found you blog on Free Hot Samples Hoppin' Weekend and I am your newest GFC follower. I would love for you to check out my blog and follow me back I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks Amber
http://dragonflysweetnest.blogspot.com/
in all fairness, it's the parents job to express the unnecessary make-up use.
I could not have said it better myself! I agree with everything you said 100%.
I let my daughters 6 and 10 wear makeup. But sparingly. Never to school and never to church. Usually they just want to wear some blush or have some sparkle on their eyes like mommy does. It is not an everyday thing. This is nothing new. MaryKate and Ashley Olsen have a brand of makeup and their main target audience was 8 year olds. As parents we are going to come across things that we don't like so it is up to as to steer our children away from it. We are their only line of defense. Good luck with keeping your kids young. I'm in the same boat.
Great entry! I have a 3 year old daughter and am being very cautious of what the World wants to teach her. UGGG hard chore!
Found you through a blog hop. New follower and hope you can follow back! :)
Have a great rest of the weekend!
No kidding! That is ridiculous. Don't you think our society has enough with all these electronics. Everything like this is bonkers. 100% I agree. Your a very smart mommy.
New follower :) Abby
I found you through a blog hop, and I'm following you via GFC.
Amber
http://beautifullybellafaith.blogspot.com
Wow
Though I totally agree that the parent is the ultimate filter, I feel that we have enough to deal with and would like it if there was a little corporate responsibility for what is out on the market.
PS: I think a little lip gloss is fine – it's the entire line for "young skin" that kills me!
Hi, new follower, interesting information, it's good for parents to take a stand
Lori you are ON SPOT! I agree with you 100%. While others have commented that basically the "monkey is on the parents back" to keep our child's innocence, the fact of the matter is, it is "all of ours" responsibility. Unfortunately, society has dropped the community accountability as was once practiced in this free country. Now, it seems to be "free" everything – whatever is right in your own sight, even our kids.
Thanks for the post!
I hate it. Seriously, I really really hate how all markets are targeting our children younger and younger.
I agree with one of the posters above how it is the parents job to filter what their children have access to. But it DOES make it much harder on the parents when these things are thrown in children's faces.
Let's be honest, kids now a days want everything that they see on the tv, in the magazines, and in the stores. If this is in their face they are going to ask for it.
I agree with you but it is also the parents responsibility to step in and not let kids wear makeup at 8. I know we can't be there all of the time but anything we can do is a huge help.
Love your post! I can't believe what society is trying to do to our daughters! Having 3 it really worries me. Mine are all teens now and have started with the whole makeup thing but it is limited and they have to reach other mile stones before they are allowed certain things. But I am so tired of seeing "ProstiTot's". That is what my girls call them. You have all these young girls trying to look they are 20 with mouths that could make a sailor blush! Where are their mothers or fathers… Do they not realize what they are setting up for their little girls… Ok off my soapbox now. Glad you want to protect your girls innocence!
OKay I have to make a comment here….:)
I actually have first hand knowledge of this line. I have a family member that is the head of the company that was ASKED BY WAL-MART, themselves, to produce this line. This line has been in the works for over a year and MILLIONS of dollars has been spent on the production and testing.
The line is to replace the Mary-Kate & Ashley "make-up" line which is why they are calling it make-up to begin with.
It is actually a skin care line specially formulated for younger girls skin. They have spent a lot of time and money making it super healthy for skin of that age range. Because it is "technically" a make-up line, there are some options like mascara and lip glosses. Nothing more than what the other line had and nothing more than what's already on the market.
The bottom line is that and 8 year old doesn't have a job to make the $ to buy make up, doesn't have a car to go to the store to bye the make-up…who supplies all this? We do as parents.
I have a daughter, you know that. Do I think she should be wearing mascara at 8 years old? Oh HELL NO. So i think I will not BUY it for her. Problem solved.
But at 8 years old she might start to have problem skin so I'm glad there will be a line of skin care especially created for her age range that she might want to use.
Call me out if you disagree, it wouldn't be the first time i've been called out. :)
I agree with you 100%!!!!! I have unliked every page that post them ALL the time!