Wearing makeup to go out is quite different from pretending to wear makeup at home. They can have distinct meanings and purposes. As kids learn by imitating and pretending, playing with makeup can be educational in many ways.
When my little girl asked for her first makeup set, I opened a long and animated debate with the family. Like many other passionate family debates, there really isn’t a right or wrong answer. “Playing makeup,” however, might include a bit more than simply applying color on your kid’s cheeks and lips.
Pretend play can help your child develop fine and gross motor skills. It also promotes creativity, cognitive development, and even social skills when a co-artist joins the party.
Offering a makeup set to a preschooler can understandably be nerve-wracking. Alternatives — such as “pretend” makeup sets — allow all the fun without the mess of real makeup.
As your child grows up, she might be looking for a more mature makeup set. This could be an opportunity to teach your kid how to pick a healthy and appropriate makeup selection.