Part 0800.0005

[patsylabrador]

I tried really hard not to post about this but all I'm doing is think crossly about it so thought if I write about it, I can get back to rescuing my veggies with peace of mind. I know I'm inclined towards being a bit Mary Whitehouse but this is crazy.

There was an article this morning about high heeled shoes for little girls as young as three, accompanied by film star's child overly dressed up which is the norm not just for an occasion.

I believe I'm right in saying that their little bones aren't properly formed for years yet and in fact the article said it could cause them back problems when they're older. I don't think it's being alarmist, it makes good sense to dress children in practical, easy clothes.

The little girl would have looked so much better in dungarees and pigtails or like the little girl on Claret's post on the chickens board.

Some parents are just so vain.

[Lavenders_Blue]

As someone who has foot problems caused by wearing high heels (in my late teens!) I can't begin to imagine what damage this could cause such young, soft bones.

 

I can only hope that any parent that does buy these keeps them for very occasional use for short periods of time.

 

But little girls look so much nicer in dolly shoes or ballet-type shoes anyway.

[Rhapsody]

If we as a society concentrated a little more on young girls' intellect, aspirations and expectations and a little less on how they look we might ALL benefit!

[chickencam]

I agree whole heartedly with what you have said Rhapsody.

[ISCA]

IMO it's child abuse. The parents dress them up like dolls. Call social services.

[patsylabrador]

Yes, and I love it when you see young girls who have gone out dressed in a weird mishmash of clothes, basically the first things they picked up, because you know that they have busy minds and have better things to do.

I also admire their mums who let them be.

I think I was around five before I was really aware of how I looked, I'd caught sight of myself in a wardrobe mirror, and stood for ages considering myself. Then I got on with whatever weird game I was playing. Up until then what I looked like was a complete irrelevance, I think most boys are like that still and it would be nice for girls to get back to that.

[bluekarin]

It makes me cringe to see what clothes are for sale for really young girls. As for heels! The state some women's feet are in after wearing heels from when their feet are developed is bad enough, but for such young girls to be doing this damage to their soft bones. I remember when the high heels came out for babies who couldn't even walk yet.

I've just had a quick look on Google, and I think I've found the article you mentioned. It just looks wrong. If it is the same one, then her famous mum says they were bought for dancing, but as she loves wearing them so much, she lets her. I think, if they are for dancing, then that's all they should be for. And not for everyday wear.

[whoopsie]

It's not just the feet which suffer it's the girl's pelvis, which may be affected by the displaced posture - cue another woman who may have a difficult pregnancy and operative birth because she wore heels while she was still growing.

[Chucky Mama]

I am in total agreement this is completely out of order. It is a shame that people buy into this sort of rubbish. If no one bought them they would not make them. Parents need to dress their children age appropriately. I have the same issue with girls with their tummies exposed, bikinis and make up I am afraid. At 6 on a non school uniform day my daughter was the only girl in the school not wearing make up with her tummy exposed. The next time I face painted a little flower on her cheek. All of the other girls in her class asked her if I would do one for them next time. The children are happy to be children if only we allow them to be

[whoopsie]

Oh God - the bikini issue. I was in Primark with a friend and we were in total disbelief at PADDED BRAS for little girls. We were rather vocal and only hope that the man standing near us (who I really hope was a father and not something else) was dissuaded.

[Seagazer]

I think I know who you're talking about, Dad and mum are both 'film' stars? I don't like seeing high heels on little girls either. I never let my DD wear them, in fact its only since she turned about 18 that she started wearing them. I'm afraid I've always dragged them kicking and screaming to Clarks

 

I probably wear them more now than I ever did when I was a teenager etc but its usually for a do or something.

 

I hate seeing young girls looking too old for their age. Why can't we let kids grow up slowly. There's a lot of life to live - but when you're an adult. Enjoy childhood and have fun. Go and get dirty playing football or mucking about in the park.

[whoopsie]

Hear Hear. My mum was really strict about what shoes I wore and while I hated it at the time i'm REALLY grateful now!

[Tiggy]

I totally agree, little girls love dressing up (so do boys) and they should be allowed to do just that, but it really makes me mad when I see them tarted up like this, they are children for such a short time

[Busybird]

A lot of my DD's friends seem to wear heels a lot now - she is 13. Thankfully she doesn't. Her school shoes are totally flat and the rest of the time it is crocs, trainers or barefoot.

 

One thing does worry me though. I have read that wearing totally flat shoes is bad for feet as well and that a low heel is best. Does anyone have any expertise in this area?

[Seagazer]

No expertise but I've also heard that.

[The Dogmother]

I couldn't agree more.

 

I think I once read somewhere that the bones in the foot don't harden fully until the person is about 17 years old. I daresay that it will be doing untold damage to her feet.

[patsylabrador]

have read that wearing totally flat shoes is bad for feet as well and that a low heel is best.

I damaged my achilles tendon about a year ago and the physio said that. She advised always wearing some sort of heel , I think it was so you don't pull the tendon banging down the foot. It certainly makes a difference.

[Cinnamon]

It stretches out the Achilles tendon apparently, & ballet pumps are especially bad because they make you splay your toes out to keep them from slipping off

Smaller people need something that is secured to the foot to keep it on.

 

This has got me thinking.

I abhor seeing children tarted up in heels,make-up & mini skirts,but then you look at Liz Hurleys son,who she dresses like little Lord Fauntleroy in knickerbockers & frilly shirts & he, the poor thing,looks awful too.

 

Its all about role models.

In my youth we aspired to be air hostess & Avon ladies,our childhood role modes were Bonnie Langford,Lesley Judd & most of the cast of Black Beauty, so we dressed like they did.

 

These days its all Pussycat Dolls,WAGS,Jordan & Ferne Cotton,so is it any wonder that girls want to emulate them,& our ships are full of the fashions they promote?

 

Are there any wholesome,well dressed,well spoken women for our girls to aspire to any more?

Not sure I can think or even one

[whoopsie]

I thnk you're right. Do you remember 'The battle of Barbie and Sindy'? I was a teenager when it was broadcast and It was said that girls all wanted to be Barbie - the skinny out of proprotion doll, whereas the more 'normal' shaped Sindy wasn't as popular. I think the desire to be something you're not has always been there, but maybe our parents were just more sensible.

 

Yes you're right about the low heel. I was told by the orthopaedic surgeon when i damaged my achilles a couple of years ago. Most sensible kids shoes do have a very low heel though come to think of it, like mens' shoes do.

 

Mind you I was also told not to run around barefoot at home but i'm sorry, humans had feet before they had shoes!

[docsquid]

At school we had uniform shoes. We had a choice of shoes approved by the school and we had to wear one or other of those shoes. None of them had a heel over 1.5 inches. We didn't all look the same, as there was a reasonable choice of colours and types. That was until we were 17 and in the sixth form, when we could wear what we liked - of course we all wore the most ridiculous platforms then, because that was the late 1970's, but at least our feet had been protected from the worst excesses while we were growing.

 

Why are children not allowed to be children any more?

[WarrensWorld]

Why are children not allowed to be children any more?

That is so true, I think the baby boomers were the last to have a childhood, ie school uniforms and perhaps short trousers. Best stop thinking about children being adults in miniature IMO.