THE pretty seven-year-old slides expertly into the manicurist’s chair. She quickly makes her selection from a colour palette and two employees at the nail salon get to work.

One starts the manicure and the other, the pedicure, as the child leans back, relaxes and watches the Disney Channel on the TV that has been switched on for her pleasure.

This is a scene repeated in many beauty salons in the Klang Valley, Malaysia, these days, more so during school holidays.

Once associated with adult women with the spending power to pamper themselves, beauty treatments such as manicures, pedicures, spas and facials are fast becoming new playthings for children.

It’s no surprise these days to find four- or five-year-olds having their nails done, or trying out a facial or a 12-year-old scheduling an appointment to wax her legs.

But does this mean little girls are in danger of growing up too fast or too obsessed with their looks?

Radha Karunakaran, whose daughter Thrisha Nair, seven, enjoys having her nails done during school holidays and special occasions, said girls will naturally be interested in beauty treatments but it’s up to parents to set boundaries.

Thrisha started kiddie manicures and pedicures two years ago, sparked by an interest after watching her mother at the salon.

“Right now, it’s just a fun thing for her but I draw the line at her wearing make-up or going for spas and facials,” said Radha.

Radha said some girls her daughter’s age already wear make-up. She was also taken aback when Thrisha asked one day whether she needed to have her arms waxed.

“She obviously got the idea from other girls but I don’t want her aspiring to be an adult at her age.”

Adrina Shazlin Shukor, a mother of two girls, shares Radha’s views. Her daughters, Ally Raisa Arif, five and Ayra Hani Arif, seven, also enjoy manicures and pedicures.

Adrina said she wants her girls to be confident and understand what looks good on them but not to the point of becoming vain or pretentious.

Both girls are always excited about doing their nails and sometimes ask their mother about trying make-up like powder or lipstick, but Adrina is careful when negotiating such things with them.

“I don’t want them to succumb to peer pressure over these things. If they want something, they should know why they want it and if I don’t agree, I explain why.”

Carol Yap, whose daughter Charlize Khong, seven, goes for a manicure and pedicure once a month, said some people view it as a waste of money and over-indulging a child but her daughter enjoys it.

“She doesn’t bite her nails once they’re done and since they’re clean and well-trimmed, it’s also more hygienic,” said Yap.

But Yap too draws the line at sending her daughter for facials and spa treatments.

Tunku Annie Tunku Datuk Ismail, mother to a five-year-old girl, shares Yap’s sentiments.

Her daughter, Rania Ezellya Datuk Shamsul Baharain, started manicures and pedicures when she was three, but Annie is determined that Rania understands the importance of looking neat and presentable without becoming obsessed with her looks.

Fidza Amin, mother of two girls, aged seven and four, said she uses pampering sessions to reward her girls when they have done something well.

Her daughters, Batrisyia Iman Iskandar and Balqis Iman Iskandar, do, on occasions, have their hair washed and blow-dried professionally, and enjoy a manicure and pedicure.

Fidza believes it’s natural for girls to want to experiment with beauty products but it’s up to the mothers to ensure it’s kept under control.

The bottomline is that little girls should progress according to their age and make-up and beauty treatments should be something fun to indulge in and not a necessity, explained Fidza.

But it is more challenging to raise a daughter today because of the exposure from TV and other influences, said Fenti Riana Ramli, mother to eight-year-old Sofea Riana Shahril Izwan.

The influence of television programmes such as Hannah Montana and movies like High School Musical has changed the way pre-teens perceive themselves.

Sofea, like other girls her age, enjoys pampering sessions and “Princess Parties” where she gets to try make-up and put on costumes and accessories.

But Fenti makes it a point to monitor what Sofea does so it’s age-appropriate and doesn’t lead to negative influences. “Children today may be more mature but they still need to be themselves and enjoy childhood,” said Fenti.

Rinnie Nor Ramli, mother of three girls aged eight, five and three, said her daughters Elsa Ryanna, Emma Andjani and Eyna Arissa Emil Rinaldi usually ask for manicures and pedicures during the school holidays.

Emma, five, also enjoys trying on make-up.

“She will try anything she can get her hands on but I don’t allow make-up on her face. It’s only a little lip gloss on certain occasions.”

While it’s hard for parents to go against tween trends, Rinnie believes it’s the “boy-girl” relationships which tweens are exposed to through TV and magazines which is more damaging than any interest in make-up or beauty.

“It’s normal for girls to be excited about beauty treatments. It’s the other influences parents have to watch out for,” she said.