Experimenting with makeup is somewhat of an early rite of passage, be it with our mother’s favourite red lipstick or an adult-style play set crammed with Crayola-coloured eyeshadows.
However, the concept of children wearing makeup is currently attracting controversy with one psychologist claiming that children's makeup kits could lead to children thinking about their appearance too much at too young an age.
The products in question typically contain a range of beauty products including lip glosses, blushers, highlighters and eyeshadows with Argos’ Chad Valley B U Heart Makeup Set - which is suitable for ages five years and over - claiming it has “everything you need to give yourself a new look.”
Meanwhile, Asda’s Shimmer and Sparkle Ultimate Make-Up Designer Studio – which is marketed towards children over the age of eight – encourages kids to “get your glam on.”
Of course, these sets are often intended for children to enjoy while playing dress-up, but experts are concerned that continuous wear could be cause for concern, The Sun reports.
“Products such as these are very clearly marketed to offer young children the opportunity to role play and be creative. The allure for children is that they’ve often seen their parent applying makeup and they want to pretend to be like them and explore the products that they see their parents using and interacting with. It makes them feel 'grown up’ during that playful moment and is an object of curiosity for them,” psychologist Honey Langcaster-James tells The Independent.
“This kind of role play helps to facilitate social and emotional development. If makeup is marketed as a toy, a replica of sorts for adult makeup which children can play with in the context of role play, then that’s unlikely to cause any issues. It’s all a question of moderation."
However, Langcaster-James goes on to explain that anything that encourages children to wear makeup in an everyday sense or as a means to alter their appearance could be damaging.
“My concern is that this could lead children to think about their appearance too much at too young an age, and may even contribute to the sexualisation of young children,” she explains.
“Childhood is a time of innocence and a relative lack of concern over appearance can be liberating. It leaves children free to explore the world around them without being concerned by how they look or how they compare too much.
“I also think it’s important that they are not given a message by society that they don’t look good enough and should consider changing their appearance.
“Children should feel free to simply be themselves without feeling self-conscious.”
Parenting Coach Bea Marshall agrees, adding that while makeup can be a fun and creative activity, parents should be concerned if it crosses over to being about daily appearance.
“One of our key roles as parents is to protect and nurture our children so we need to understand what is behind their desire to wear make up,” she tells The Independent.
“If it is simply a creative outlet as part of role-playing adult life then this falls within much of typical play for children. However, when it crosses over to being about daily appearance, being pleasing to others, making or keeping friends and being someone else then that suggests something might be amiss.”
If you are concerned that your child is becoming too preoccupied with imitating the adult world, Marshall suggests “building in more time in the garden, the woods, at a local nature reserve or adventure playground. We want to provide them with the sorts of play opportunities that will support their brain to develop in a healthy way.”
She also says that it can be helpful to step back and observe what they are watching on TV and what conversations they might be hearing between the adults in their lives.
“When we change the environment for our child then it is easier for the child to change. We want our children to know that they are enough just as they are,” she concludes.
In response to the criticism, Argos says that their makeup kits are designed to encourage creativity.
“Our Chad Valley collection offers a range of toys and games which are designed to fuel creativity and enhance children’s play time – from dolls and alphabet sets, to musical instruments,” a spokesperson said.
“We regularly review our range and always welcome feedback.”
The Independent has contacted Asda for comment.
