Why do Parents put Color& Highlights in their young Daughters Hair these days?

Question

I'm a Teacher in an elementary school--and I notice that MANY of the young girls ages 6 to 11 years old are having their hair Dyed Blond (from brunette), and many of them have blond streaks and highlights. The kids tell me their Moms are doing this.


I'm 30--so I guess their Parents are about my age & younger--but I dont understand why a Mom would do such a thing to a young daughter. When I was a kid, kids were expected to look and act like kids.

Isn't that too advanced? Are there no longer lines seperating adults from children anymore?
Is this teaching also young girls that blond is better?

Do you do this???--Please tell me WHY. I am a Teacher and I am very CURIOUS.

Answer 1

When I was 11 and in the 6th grade, I gave myself blond streaks. It had nothing to do with trying to look older, I just wanted to experiment. My aunt and uncle thought it was fine since it's only hair color, and it could always be dyed back if they or I didn't like it. It surprised me that my uncle said ok, since he wouldn't let me have my ears pierced a 2nd time. I have a 1 year old daughter now, and if she wants to do the same when she's about 12, I wouldn't mind. I would never tell her she needed to or bring it up myself, though.

Answer 2

This, believe it or not is a very easy to answer question, they do this for the same reasons they go out and buy their little girl a sexy little outfit, like a see through blouse, and a little pleated skirt little heels, make up, and stockings, dress them up as though they were 18 or 19, thinking it is so cute, the child is being put at risk, by age 10, still dressing way beyond their years, they are given attention by the wrong individuals, the ones who will look and TOUCH, if/when this happens this child will have emotional scars for the rest of her life, parents aren`t thinking these days, why put your child at risk? This child of yours is the most valuable thing you have, or will ever have, treat them as so, guard against ANYTHING, If you can`t or won`t protect this innocence, give the child up for adoption, or maybe you should think about the type paren't you will be before becoming pregnant, and if you arent sure, dont have any until you ARE sure you will protect them with your life if necessary. I am so angry about the things that parents do these days, it makes me sick. I can`t believe anyone feels any different than I did when I was at the hospital and my adopted daughter gave birth to my first grandson, having not been there for my daughters birth, something was missing from my emotional feelings having never experienced what this was like until my grandson was born, I will protect him and his brother until my last breath, parents don`t feel this way about their kids now, and I wonder why.

P.S. Teacher please don`t confuse my feelings with those of women, well mothers in particular have, because in truth, I am neither of those, I have the same feelings every parent, MAN or woman should have about their children

Answer 3

It is so ironic that you are asking this now because my 9 year old today just got through asking me if she could make her hair blonde. I told her no of course because I think kids are already growing up way too fast as it is and I don't want her believing that blonde is better. She already has a certain mentality from school that being blonde is better and prettier.

I do think it's wrong that parents are allowing this so young. I am 32 and I have five kids and I expect them to look age appropriate. I don't allow my kids to wear pants or shorts with writing on the behind or sexy tops and I think it's disgusting when parents do. I want my kids to keep the innocence of childhood for as long as they can...

I think parents go along with this because they don't follow their own instincts. I think they assume since other parents allow it that it must be okay and I think that society puts too much pressure on people to be beautiful...

Answer 4

Mom of a ten year old little girl here and I wouldn't even think of it I am absolutely amazed by the way parents are letting their kids dye their hair and dress these days. It makes me sick to be honest with you.

Yes they are instilling that looks are every thing. and then they wonder why so many girls become depressed and have low self esteem.

Look at the depression rate in girls it is soaring anorexia in kids that are 10 and 11 years old because they think they are fat at a mere 80 pounds. Oh my what are we doing?

Girls think they are nothing if they don't have a boy friend at 9
nope I am gonna keep my little girl a little girl as long as I can in jeans and a t shirt and not scared of a little bit dirt.

Answer 5

I think they do it cause they think its ok, to let their children make decisions. Its ok to let children of this age to make decisions it should be those that are about getting dress, what they may want to eat things children should be concerned with.

Many parents are on this friend level but always come back and will say well mary is responsible for her age, come on, what does responsibility have to do with her hair color? By dying their hair at this age is sending them messages that its ok to be someone else not themselves, its not helping them love who they are. There is no reason for children to have any kind of highlights or dye in their hair what so ever. its just damaging a child hair

why let them do all these things now, what will they have to do when they get older (16) Stop letting the children grow up too fast, they want to be cute , they have those clip on hair that they can put on and be removed easily.

Answer 6

I'm an elementary teacher also and I've wondered the same thing many times. I'm also curious as to why parents send their young daughters to school in high heals. How are these kids supposed to run, jump, and participate in P.E.? I've sent notes home advising parents to send appropriate footwear, but it hasn't happened.
My daughter, who's about your age, has an acquaintance who pierced her 4 month old son's ears and put in diamond studs. Sound pretty uncomfortable to sleep in.
Many kids these days don't have much of a childhood. I wish parents would understand that childhood is a very short lived gift. There's no need to rush them into growing up. They'll do it fast enough.

Answer 7

I've encountered this too, and the explanation given by the moms is "it's just fun, and she looks prettier as a blond". I think it's so sad that these moms can look at their daughters objectively and judge them on their appearance. I think a child should always feel like their parents think they are the best thing ever, no matter what they look like. But the fact is that girls, far more so than boys, are judged on their physical appearance their entire lives. The moms know that life will be easier for the pretty blonds, and are grooming them to think of beauty as an important quality to develop. And sadly, the girls themselves understand that by the positive reinforcement they get from society.

Answer 8

I agree that there is way to much to young. My daughter is 13, I did let her color her hair, it is blondish and I let her go a shade darker. Most of her friends are experimenting with hair color right now. I didn't just let her do whatever she wanted. (She wanted to "go gothic") but gave her guidelines that let her participate in a fad without going crazy with it. I guess you could say we compromised. She now is strawberry blonde and it looks pretty natural, she got to experiment and we did'nt have a huge control issue. I let her get her ears pierced, but she IS NOT piercing anywhere else till shes at least 16. I think being rational is the key.

As far as the answers about babies having their ears pierced, personally I find it abnormal. They arent old enough to have a choice at all, however it is perfectly normal in some cultures. Does that make those cultures wrong? I think not.

My daughter also had to earn the money to pay for her own hair and ears . Also had to take care of the pierced ears so as not to get infected.

Answer 9

Did you ever watch the Brady Bunch? All three girls and the little boy who played Bobby dyed their hair--(parents dyed their hair)--so not a new thing. My 2 cousins skated competively and both died their hair blond---in the 60's. Maybe its because I am from Cali--but many people dye their kids hair! Me--well, I didn't do it till I was 20 and I have been blond ever since!

Answer 10

I think it's sad. They are teaching their daughters at an early age that what is natural to them isn't good enough. It's just like putting hair extensions and relaxers and perms in a child's hair, which I think promotes low self esteem. It suggests that they need to be improved upon. Little girls have enough to contend with as they grow and develop, they don't need their parent reinforcing that idea, that they're not ideal.