We are modern parents and shave ourselves, we also expect from our children that they are clean and well groomed and that they remove all body hair, not just legs, but underarms and pubic hair.

And that from the first hair on. Everyone is a little different, some start early, some have dark hair and strong, and some lighter blond. For children, the peer-pressure on the most important and strongest. I agree to remove hair from the beginning! Being laughed about is horrible for kids.

Our daughter, now 16, has started to shave with 11 and waxes today, our son, 14, shaves since last year.

What other families are like us?

-Sylvie

Hi

I too, am going thru the same thing with my 12 year old who is in grade 7. She asked if she could start shaving her legs in Year 6 but as parents we decided on a personal note that it was too young. Maybe we are too strict but we said she could shave her legs at the end of this year (going onto Yr 8). Once you start shaving legs you cannot stop. Mind you she is very blonde so unless you look up close to her legs you cant see them anyway. She already shaves under her arms as a personal hygene thing in Yr 6. If my daughter had dark hairs perhaps we would of said yes earlier. But being so blonde, we waited that extra 12 months. They grow up too fast. Just thought we would share our parenting attitude to this dilemma!

My two daughters started shaving their legs when they were 12. What i did to delay the shaving a bit is i told them that it was something that they will have to do every three days because after u shave once your hair on ur legs is not soft anymore and it becomes a lot darker. I also told them they will like doing it the first two weeks because it is new and u feel older but after that u hate it because u have to do it. Do not wax because their skin is still to sensitive, it will take the first layer of protection they have on their legs. Try to discourage her with that advice. Believe me my daughters today hate shaving their legs and realize i was right. Get her to read this sometimes when they hear it from somebody else it is more clear. Why were we born with hairs? It is a pain.

We were shocked when our 10 year old asked to shave her underarms.  they were harry so we let her and we asked her doctor about this and she said that kids are maturing faster these days.  its alarming that, but its reality.  If they feel like they should then i would let them.  we all though we were ready when we asked our parents.  they feel their ready too.

darren & michelle