Parents of young children (3-10) What are your thoughts about children's beauty pageants?

Are they for the benefit of the child or to pump up the parent's ego? Are moms living vicariously through their daughters when they push for this kind of competition? Are little girls meant to be ';dolled'; up with make up and clothing that makes them look like little adults. Is this a form of exploitation? Are we sending the wrong message to our children?Parents of young children (3-10) What are your thoughts about children's beauty pageants?
i have watched some of these reality shows on tv and boy does it make me mad. the way the parents talk to the kids, the money they spend, and the reaction of the kids if they dont win.. or the reaction of the parents if the child dosnt want to do it...its very sad and wrong on so many levels. the parents are doing this for themself, not the children.Parents of young children (3-10) What are your thoughts about children's beauty pageants?
I think it can depend on many different things:





~the age of the child...anything under the age of 7, to me, seems too young


~If the mom is willing to stop as SOON as the child wants, then it's for the child, and that is ok


~As long as it's for fun, and not something that the child is being forced into doing, then it's fine


~If the child can compete without wearing all of that make-up and can just be a child, then that is even better!





I, personally, wouldn't have an issue with it if my child was old enough, and only wanted to do it for fun. It's not something I would make a habit or ';career'; of.
Cute little pageants at a small town festival are fine, if the child wants to do it. When you start seeing these parents who push their kids into wearing little mini-adult clothes, caking on the make-up to make them look like barbie dolls, and forcing them to grow up before their time then it is SSSOOOOOO wrong. I don't believe that these girls should be traveling the country to participate in these pageants. Let them decide if this is what they want to do when they are old enough to make up their own minds and make rational decisions!!!
Yes we are sending the wrong message. Really kids grow up fast enough.Why make them go thur all this stuff. I don't like it. if kids want to dress up send them to acting with people there own age. or a dance place. but please don't make them grow up to fast. This is my opinion and i think it sends the wrong message to them. and some parents want this because of there self. thanks. Also children are awful young and when they say things like mom dad why why do i have to do this. think what they are really saying. this is all wrong for them they are still growing let them grow up right not wrong.
i have a 7 year old daughter who is in pageants. we started them to help her get over her shyness. it has worked and it has done no harm to my daughter. she understands that sometimes she will win and sometimes she will not. (she has won one and lost about 5) she does not care if she wins or not, she just likes doing them. and she knows that the first time she cries because she did not win then she will do no more pageants. as long as it is what the child wants to do then i see nothing wrong with it. i do not think the child should be forced.
What makes us beautiful is whats with us. We as parents help our children feel beautiful from the inside out. Until someone can feel beautiful from the inside out they should not be placed in to those type of Pagents.
IF MY CHILD IS BEAUTIFUL THEN I'M BEAUTIFUL, RIGHT?





RIGHT?!?!