WELLBEING
FAMILY MATTERS
Tamara Ecclestone was mum-shamed after sharing pictures of 10-year-old daughter Fifi wearing make-up, a miniskirt and heeled loafers. Anna delves into the kids’ clothing quandary
I’m sure Tamara is a very loving mother who was just allowing her daughter to dress up – she won’t be going to school in full hair, make-up and heels! Obviously we don’t want to over-sexualise our child or encourage them to look or behave more mature than they are, because being perceived as older can bring about dangers. But at the same time, it’s about allowing children to evolve as they grow. It’s more important that children experiment in the safety of their home, with a parent, as opposed to doing it behind your back. I had friends growing up who weren’t allowed to wear skirts above the knee or wear any make-up, but when we all started rolling up our skirts and popping on mascara on the school bus, they were doing it too, only covertly.
Boundaries are important but so too is open dialogue. If your child is asking if they can experiment with make-up or certain items of clothing, ask why. Parents often worry children are becoming too aware of looks and are trying to mask any imperfections. Be mindful of who they’re friends with and what content they’re digesting on social media, so you can figure out if low confidence is driving this. If so, help them recognise that everybody is beautiful in their own way and Instagram i
