Is a 4-Year-Old Too Young to Wear Make-up?

Recently, “Good Morning America” featured a piece about 4-year-old Brenna Cross from Fort Wayne, Indiana, talking about how much she loves to wear make-up everyday.

What do you think about this? Harmless or is it giving her a warped sense of herself and beauty?

It all started when her mother, Lindsay, confessed about her daughter’s interest in wearing make-up on the blog Mommyish.com. Let the judging begin.

“Ever since she could sit in front of my vanity, my daughter has loved make-up. The entire idea of painting her face was pretty exciting. She’s begged for blush and pleaded for a little lipstick. And for the past two years, I’ve obliged her,” Lindsay wrote in the blog post.

She detailed their dress-up routine with Brenna’s “good shoes” and fancy dress and the make-up she has loved to wear since she was 2.

Lindsay points to Suri Cruise (the daughter of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes) and her bright lipstick at the ripe old age of 5.

She goes on to write, “But when we get ready together, it doesn’t feel like she’s worried about becoming pretty. It feels like a little girl who wants to pretend she’s a grown up like her mama.”

The sparks are flying in the comments section of the Mommyish blog post:

“PEOPLE NEED TO MIND THEIR OWN BUSINESS .THERE IS BARELY ANY THERE. ,AND IT MAKES HER HAPPY LET HER BE. AND HER MOTHER IS RIGHT THERE. SO WHAT IS THE HARM??????????” screams MARYF.

Barbara says, “I think this MOTHER needs some serious parenting classes.”

Hope is supportive: “I also have a 4year old Daughter! I have been putting make-up on her for the past two years!! For pictures, or just cause & for play!!! i also when she ask shave her legs for her!!!! There is nothing wrong with what you are doing!!!!”

So what do you think – is this fun, harmless dress-up with mom or is she being psychologically damaged and they should stop? Please comment and we’ll discuss.

Marijo Tinlin is the Editor in Chief of Family First, one of the oldest family-oriented websites on the internet. She is also the author of a book about patriotism and teaching our children to love this country called “How to Raise an American Patriot, Making it Okay for Our Kids to Be Proud to Be American.”  It features 13 interviews with patriotic Americans including Ed Meese, Erick Erickson and Jackie Gingrich Cushman. It’s available at www.raisinganamericanpatriot.com.