Kids are jumping out of
the sandbox and into the spa at younger and younger ages than ever before, but
parents need to realize its okay for kids to take pride in their appearance, as
long as it doesn't take over their lives.
Spa themed parties are the
hottest birthday trend going for the 12 and under set. Salons across the
country have packages designed for little girls to indulge themselves and their
friends with services that used to be reserved for moms only.
Little Miss Manicures, Pollyanna
Pedicures, and mini massages and facials are all the rage for kids. In Little Rock,
the Ava Bella Day Spa offers a pajama party package where for four hours the
birthday girl can partake in a laundry list of spa services complete with
lunch.
"The kids just feel like
princesses for the day," said Ava Bella Day Spa's Dee Dee Helbig. "It's just a
great way to celebrate a birthday or a graduation or a just because. That's why
we've brought it in because kids need it too."
Kids do need to know how
to take care of their bodies, but an experience like this is a luxury.
"It really does help
me feel relaxed."
6-year-old Novella and 8-year-old
Kate don't go to the spa on a regular basis, but when they're here, they
realize it's a treat.
"Right after, I felt
my feet and it felt so smooth and I love the way my fingernails and my toenails
are painted," said Kate.
Statistics show girls are
starting grooming regimens at earlier ages than ever before. Many parents see the spa experience as a way
to teach their children life-long hygiene habits.
"Who doesn't want to be pampered
and feel special," said mom Angela Denton. "And we do talk about the importance
of taking care of yourself and taking pride in how you look and hygiene and
taking care of your skin and keeping sunscreen on and she realizes that."
Across town at Studio A, Connie
Lester, a hair stylist and colorist for more than 25 years, says she's also
seeing an increase in kids coming in for more grown up services. She sees girls as young as four and six
getting highlights on a regular basis.
"I think it's a
personal thing," said Lester. "If the mother and the child sit down and discuss
this and that's something they've decided, I think it's a good idea."
"While we have
occasionally done a pedicure that was a special treat, we don't go on a regular
basis and they don't see me go on a regular basis," said Dr. Wendy Ward, a
child psychologist at Arkansas Children's Hospital and mother of three girls.
She believes too much
attention on appearance can actually eat away at a child's self confidence. Dr.
Ward says parents need to make sure their girls do a wide variety of
activities.
"What we enjoy doing
as a family are physical activity options such as cooking together and going to
the symphony together and other things that don't have anything related to
physical appearance," said Dr. Ward.
She says parents should remind their
daughters that true beauty comes from within.
It's the kind of person they are on the inside that matters most and not
what they look like on the outside.
