Anonymous wrote:My four-year-old son asks to put on my lipstick whenever he sees me doing it. He also asks me to paint his nails. Does this mean anything? Should I let him do it?

Why not? If you had a 4-yr old daughter who wanted to play baseball. would you let he; do you think your son is displaying homosexual tendencies?

I think 4 is too young to be using makeup or wearing nail polish whether you are a boy or a girl. In our house we allow Chapstick and possibly tinted lip gloss if it is a gift (unopened obviously) from another child (my oldest daughter is 5, some of her classmates moms are not as strict about makeup and stuff like that as we are.)
Nail polish has a lot of really yucky chemicals in it that are not good for kids to be exposed to, not to mention the nail polish remover.

If my 4 yo dd isn't allowed to wear makeup, then my 5 yo ds certainly isn't going to be allowed either.

If I had a dollar for every time we've walked out of the house without me noticing that DS (3) has on lipstick or a pantiliner stuck to the front of his pants, I'd have about $10.

Putting lipstick on a 4 year old boy (or girl) is a bit much to me. Chapstick is ok, but I wouldn't want a 4 year old wearing make up regardless of gender. Painting fingernails and toenails are totally fine with me, be it a boy or girl. Completely fun. My son paints likes his nails painted but will demands boy colors only. Let them express themselves but be sure to set limits regardless of gender.

Yep, my 4 year olld DS currently has blue toenails thanks to my sister - the cool aunt. He also has chapstick clipped to his backpack which he frequently applies as his makeup all over his face.

no big deal. One of my two brothers did it and he's fine. Paints fiancee's nails on occasion with great success too I hear.

I teach K and every couple of years, I get a boy who regularly comes to school with his nails painted. It's not a big deal.

My 3 y/o likes pink and dresses and things like that. It started when his little sister was born and people sent us a ton of pink stuff.

My husband and I don't love pink or super "girly" style stuff, for either of our kids, but when our son wants to wear a dress to to the playground, we do not make a fuss.

I don't wear nailpolish, so that hasn't come up as an interest for the kids, but if it does, I will limit their access to polish as its pretty toxic.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2012/04/13/toxic_nail_polish_lies_found_on_beauty_industry_labels.html

I did say to my son - as I would my daughter - that he was not to wear make-up out of the house until he is 16. (okay maybe 13)

At 6 - he had painted his toes with me and I did not have time to take it off - i told him his friends might make fun of him - it was up to him. He took it off and then we used clear in the future so he could keep it on. He is 9 and brother is 12 and they still do their toes with me but they do not paint them. But the foot rub is so much fun.

Please let your son do as he likes with this and do not react negatively.

It just means he wants to be like his Mom, whom he loves. You two must have a very good relationship.

Yes, let him do it. It doesn't mean anything except that he admires you and wants to do what you do. My DS at that age worshipped his big sister and dressed up in tutus, sparkles and costume jewelry with her. No harm.

sure why not?

My four-year-old son asks to put on my lipstick whenever he sees me doing it. He also asks me to paint his nails. Does this mean anything? Should I let him do it?