Comments on: Discussion: What is Beauty to a Toddler? http://www.thingamababy.com/baby/2007/12/vanity.html A dad's eye view of baby and toddler stuff Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:34:58 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Jessica G. http://www.thingamababy.com/baby/2007/12/vanity.html/comment-page-1#comment-3366 Jessica G. Wed, 05 Dec 2007 23:30:33 +0000 http://s54748.gridserver.com/baby/2007/12/discussion-what-is-beauty-to-a-toddler.html#comment-3366 <p>Ok, I had to try that out since we have girls the same age. This is how my version went:</p> <p>Me: What do you look like?<br /> Miss P: I look like me.<br /> Me: What does that mean?<br /> Miss P: I am a lion.<br /> Me: Are you yellow?<br /> Miss P: I have red hair and blue and white eyes and a tiki face.<br /> Me: Are you pretty?<br /> Miss P: Yes.<br /> Me: Who else is pretty? <br /> Miss P: Paige and Grandma and Daddy and YOU!<br /> Me: Do you know anyone who is ugly?<br /> MIss P: Yes. Pa-Pa.<br /> Me: (laughing) Why is Pa-Pa ugly?<br /> Miss P: Because he bumped his eye<br /> Editors note: Her grandfather did indeed bump his eye - had a horrible black eye for Thanksgiving!<br /> Me: Do little girls need makeup?<br /> Miss P: Nope! <br /> Me: Do mommies need makeup?<br /> Miss P: Yes. <br /> Me: Why do people need makeup?<br /> Miss P: Because they go to the store and ...<br /> Me: Does daddy need makeup?<br /> Miss P: NO! But daddy wears lipstick.</p> <p>Ok. You get the gist. Daddy does wear chapstick, but who wants to ruin that train of thought?</p> Ok, I had to try that out since we have girls the same age. This is how my version went:

Me: What do you look like?
Miss P: I look like me.
Me: What does that mean?
Miss P: I am a lion.
Me: Are you yellow?
Miss P: I have red hair and blue and white eyes and a tiki face.
Me: Are you pretty?
Miss P: Yes.
Me: Who else is pretty?
Miss P: Paige and Grandma and Daddy and YOU!
Me: Do you know anyone who is ugly?
MIss P: Yes. Pa-Pa.
Me: (laughing) Why is Pa-Pa ugly?
Miss P: Because he bumped his eye
Editors note: Her grandfather did indeed bump his eye – had a horrible black eye for Thanksgiving!
Me: Do little girls need makeup?
Miss P: Nope!
Me: Do mommies need makeup?
Miss P: Yes.
Me: Why do people need makeup?
Miss P: Because they go to the store and …
Me: Does daddy need makeup?
Miss P: NO! But daddy wears lipstick.

Ok. You get the gist. Daddy does wear chapstick, but who wants to ruin that train of thought?

]]> By: KGS http://www.thingamababy.com/baby/2007/12/vanity.html/comment-page-1#comment-3365 KGS Wed, 05 Dec 2007 20:55:24 +0000 http://s54748.gridserver.com/baby/2007/12/discussion-what-is-beauty-to-a-toddler.html#comment-3365 <p>What interests me about this conversation is that despite lack of exposure to TV and such, your toddler already thinks women (and their clothes, etc) are "pretty," but that adjective seems out of place (or at least makes her smile) when applied to men and their accessories. I doubt she would verbally identify the cultural baggage that "pretty" carries, but she knows it's there. Kids pick up on subtle aspects of popular culture so easily. </p> <p>I think it's relatively easy to think of yourself as "pretty" as a child, and very hard during your teen years (no matter what you look like), so enjoy this time while it lasts! But "pretty" only builds self-esteem if you think it's one of several good qualities you have; it detracts from self-esteem if you feel it's the only tool you have to win people's affection. Spending time with our kids and talking about all the good things they do seems like one obvious way to combat this, and it sounds like that's your approach too.</p> What interests me about this conversation is that despite lack of exposure to TV and such, your toddler already thinks women (and their clothes, etc) are “pretty,” but that adjective seems out of place (or at least makes her smile) when applied to men and their accessories. I doubt she would verbally identify the cultural baggage that “pretty” carries, but she knows it’s there. Kids pick up on subtle aspects of popular culture so easily.

I think it’s relatively easy to think of yourself as “pretty” as a child, and very hard during your teen years (no matter what you look like), so enjoy this time while it lasts! But “pretty” only builds self-esteem if you think it’s one of several good qualities you have; it detracts from self-esteem if you feel it’s the only tool you have to win people’s affection. Spending time with our kids and talking about all the good things they do seems like one obvious way to combat this, and it sounds like that’s your approach too.

]]> By: Erin http://www.thingamababy.com/baby/2007/12/vanity.html/comment-page-1#comment-3364 Erin Wed, 05 Dec 2007 18:42:28 +0000 http://s54748.gridserver.com/baby/2007/12/discussion-what-is-beauty-to-a-toddler.html#comment-3364 <p>My two year old came up to me a couple of weeks ago and said, "You're so pretty, Mommy, and I'm proud of you!" Last time she went to see her grandpa she walked into the house and announced, "I'm cute!" To me, that means we must be doing something right, since kids tend to repeat the things they hear said. As she gets older, we may have to work on humility a little bit :-)</p> My two year old came up to me a couple of weeks ago and said, “You’re so pretty, Mommy, and I’m proud of you!” Last time she went to see her grandpa she walked into the house and announced, “I’m cute!” To me, that means we must be doing something right, since kids tend to repeat the things they hear said. As she gets older, we may have to work on humility a little bit :-)

]]> By: AJ http://www.thingamababy.com/baby/2007/12/vanity.html/comment-page-1#comment-3363 AJ Wed, 05 Dec 2007 18:09:13 +0000 http://s54748.gridserver.com/baby/2007/12/discussion-what-is-beauty-to-a-toddler.html#comment-3363 <p>Now that I think about it more, parents don't (or I don't) usually talk about other people being pretty or beautiful. </p> <p>I was surprised this article didn't elicit a greater response this morning, but not now...</p> <p>The only people regularly talking about beauty are marketers. I'd better think about having these conversations before Bratz dolls do.</p> Now that I think about it more, parents don’t (or I don’t) usually talk about other people being pretty or beautiful.

I was surprised this article didn’t elicit a greater response this morning, but not now…

The only people regularly talking about beauty are marketers. I’d better think about having these conversations before Bratz dolls do.

]]> By: Christy http://www.thingamababy.com/baby/2007/12/vanity.html/comment-page-1#comment-3362 Christy Wed, 05 Dec 2007 16:18:57 +0000 http://s54748.gridserver.com/baby/2007/12/discussion-what-is-beauty-to-a-toddler.html#comment-3362 <p>What an interesting conversation. My daughter is 2 and we are working on the concept of "pretty." Right now, she has no idea, but we want to make sure that she understands what true beauty is. It is really hard with all the images in the media. I'm not sure how we are going to handle it when she gets older and starts seeing all of these ad campaigns and other misguided views of beauty. </p> <p>Be sure to check out my current giveaway!<br /> </p> What an interesting conversation. My daughter is 2 and we are working on the concept of “pretty.” Right now, she has no idea, but we want to make sure that she understands what true beauty is. It is really hard with all the images in the media. I’m not sure how we are going to handle it when she gets older and starts seeing all of these ad campaigns and other misguided views of beauty.

Be sure to check out my current giveaway!

]]>