How concerned would you be if your 5-year-old daughter asked you what face shape she has because she wants to know what kind of haircut would look best on her?
The question is prompted by an insert in the latest edition of the Lego Club Magazine. Didn’t think the building-toy behemoth would have a take on hair and beauty for children? Me neither.
But this is exactly the experience Sharon Holbrook described in The New York Time’s parenting blog:
She is 7. My little girl, the shape of her face, and whether her haircut is flattering are none of Lego’s concern. It wasn’t even her concern until a toy magazine told her to start worrying about it.
According to Consumerist, here are some of the hair and beauty tips Lego offers on “Emma’s Beauty Tips:”
- Long faces. “If you want a long style, curls and waves help your face appear slightly shorter. Blunt bangs, side-swept bangs and choppy layers will also look cute,” the Lego insert reads. If you don’t want your face to look “slightly shorter,” then disregard Lego’s advice.
- Square faces. “To soften the edges of your face, short, curly bobs, or long straight hair make pretty square faces even prettier,” Lego writes. Because really, who wants a harshly edged square face, right? It’s best to “soften the edges.”
The insert has pictures of Heartlake Hair Salon, a Lego Friends play set.
Two years ago, a slightly different Lego Friends salon play set had the dubious distinction of earning a top spot on an annual list of the worst products by the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, Consumerist noted.
I remember playing with primary-colored Legos as a kid, not the purple and pink bricks that usually make up the super-girly Lego Friends sets these days. I don’t see how offering little girls advice on their hair has any place in a Lego magazine.
I have an almost 5-year-old daughter. I want to raise her to be strong and confident. She is far too young to be worrying about how she looks, including her dress and hair. I try to be careful about how I speak to her, complimenting her on how smart or kind she is, or what a great sense of humor she has, as well as how pretty she is. I want her to feel good about herself, both inside and out.
I am careful about what toys I purchase for her. Lately, she plays with a lot of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle toys and Spider-Man toys, and that’s great. A hair salon Lego set is probably not something we will ever see in my house.
What do you think about Lego’s hair advice for little girls? Share your comments below or on our Facebook page.
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