Do you think my daughter wants short hair?

Question

My daughter (3yrs.) has cut her hair a couple of times at school and today-after it finally grew out enough to put into ponytails-she found some scissors still packed in a box from our move and cut her whol ponytail off!! Every time she has done this at school it's always really short too. Do you think she's showing a prefrance for a short hair do?? It sucks that she cut it, but it'll grow back, but should I let it? Anyone else have a 3 year old wanting short hair?

I'm not a bad parent that doesn't watch my kid either. She was taking a nap and I went outside to hang some laundry on the line(i love that smell) and when I came back in the damage was done.

I'll ask her if she's allowed to cut her hair and she knows she isn't supposed to have scissors let alone cut her hair. She won't really answer me when I ask if she wants her hair cut.

Answer 1

i dont think that at 3 girls really care that much about how they look. She probably cut her hair because she wants to show that she is grown up, or for independance.

honestly i am not sure why kids do it, but almost every little kid that i know has cut his/her own hair in their lifetime.

When i was little, my parents were having some type of dinner party, so they were all sitting around the living room talking when my older brother (he was about 5 i was about 3) told me that he wanted to cut my hair. I originally told him no, but then he told me that he was gonna make me look pretty. So i went out and we sat on the picnic table and he cut my hair. When i went inside, i asked everyone if i looked pretty and imeditly saw every jaw drop. Lol, i had a bald spot all the way down my hair.

My nephew went to preschool at the age of 3 also and got ahold of a pair of sissors several times and cut his hair. One time he actually cut a strip down the middle of his head so it looked like an inverted mowhalk.

My niece was about 3 when she let her older (about 5)brother cut her bangs so that they were just short enough so that they stuck straight out and there was nothing that we could do about it. (then a year later, she cut her own hair)

I have more stories, but what i am trying to say is, every kid does that at her age. There isn't anything to worry about. I am not sure why they do it, but i know that it isn't because they want short hair. I don't think that they realize that when they cut it off that it is gone. I know she has done if before and you would expect her to learn, but they just dont seem to. Don't make a big deal about it. try to fix her hair so that it doesn't look so bad. And don't be suprised if she does it again.

Just make sure that you let her know that this is not an acceptable thing to do.

Answer 2

I'm not sure if she wants it short, she may just be playing with the scissors. It may be an idea to keep it short for now anyways. When you put ponytails in baby hair, it breaks the hair shafts when you pull the pony out. Even if you try to do it gently. She can always grow it longer when she gets older, if she decides to. Short hair on young children is MUCH easier to handle, too. Your not fixing the ponies or clips all the time and your not chasing after them with a brush all through the day. Not to mention the tangles after washing (even if you use conditioner) and getting them to sit still long enough to comb it. Stick with short hair for now. Show enthusiasm when you take her to get it cut. Be excited and happy, and not sad and disappointed. She will pick up on your attitude and feelings and will act/feel the same. Good luck!

Answer 3

She may just like to be defiant. She knows you HATE it, so she'll do it. At this age, she shouldn't get to choose if she has long or short hair. It's what you want really. Keep scissors away from her too, that's really not cool. Tell her she is to NEVER touch scissors unless mommy or daddy is around because she could cut a finger off or something, and tell her that.
I never cut my hair, but I ALWAYS messed it up after my mom would work hard on it. :) I think it's just a thing, little girls showing their moms who's boss.
She'll grow out of it. :)

Answer 4

I think most kids cut their hair at one time or another. Also at her age she's trying to figure out, if I do this what will happen. If I do this again, will the same thing happen? It's experimentation that is helping her learn to control her world. You'll just have to put the scissors someplace secure and let her pass through this phase.

Answer 5

I think maybe she just wants to use the scissors (which should be put somewhere she can't reach or find) Give her some supervised arts and crafts to do periodically. Take her with you to the salon and have them thin her hair but not cut it. She's too young to show a preference as to whether or not to have short hair.

Answer 6

I think she just doesn't like getting her hair combed, I remember doing the same thing when I was 6yrs. old. I didn't like how long my mom took to comb and brush it and she was heavy handed too. Maybe she won't cut it anymore if you hide the scissors for starters and take less time to do her hair.

Answer 7

lol. i used to cut my hair when i was little too (i have good memory). it wasnt because i wanted short hair, its just because i liked to use scissors!! eventually i lost interest. maybe teach her other things to use scissors on. get those little plastic scissors they sell for children and let her do cut and paste. i dont think those scissors can cut hair so thats a plus.

Answer 8

Kids love cuting hair at least I did.I use to cut my barbie dolls hair and My Mom brought me a doll that I could pretend to cut her hair,which naturally I really did cut her hair.It normal and she will grow out of it.Your not a bad parent it normal for kids to cut there hair.

Answer 9

She's too young to be making choices regarding her hair style. All she knows is that when she cuts her hair she gets a reaction from you. Stop reacting and the behavior will stop.

Answer 10

Maybe not. Maybe she just wants the attn. Plus she's only 3 she's experimneting. Ask her yourself. See what she says.