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How do you feel about long hair on "kids"? The word "kids" are kids not even old enough to be teenagers yet...and obviously, we are talking about "boys" not "girls" here in this question. I have seen a few kids (under the age of 13) with long hair and - personally - I really don't care for it. Once a child/kid/teenager is at an age when they are old enough to start making decisions for themselves then I wouldn't have a problem with them growing their hair out and getting earrings. I was a junior in high school when I first started letting my hair grow out and when I first got my earrings.
Why? Because my wife is pregnant with our first child and people have asked me if my son (hopefully it will be a boy) will have long hair like his Dad?! I tell them, "When he is old enough to make decisions for himself, then he can grow it out if he so chooses to do so...but not until then." The same goes for earrings as well, and tatoos, etc. I just want my child to be his own person...don't get me wrong though...when the time comes I will definitely drop hints and try to encourage him in a subtle way to grow his hair out - but if he chooses not to, then I'm not going to force him into doing something that he doesn't want to do.
Anybody have kids out there?...Is their hair long like yours?
I think its cute - much better than the buzzcuts that so many of them have now.
I agree with most everything else. I'd never force a son of mine to wear his hair in some way that he doesn't like. If he wants a buzzcut, well, I'll take him to the barber to get one. If he wants to grow it long, that's fine too.
I will start by saying my only kid, is my dog. Any way I think back to the years growing up, and having my dad control what I did with my hair, regardless of what I wanted. So I would say let the kids choose all the way along. If the kid is like most kids he will want to be like dad. So He may want it long too, but other kids aren't so nice so that may turn him off to it. Who knows. I say while he is young enough to not know, let it grow, and braid it, but after that ???
It seems to me that the only reason why people are unsure about long-hair on very young boys is simply because it's quite uncommon. I understand that its rarity can provide a good reason in and of itself (you don't want to possibly put him in a compromising situation without him knowing). I guess I'm not really trying to prove a point here, just giving some observations. It's not written in stone anywhere that boys have to have short hair until further notice or a certain age anymore than girls have to have long hair until further notice or a certain age...but we seem to accept popular tradition as an imperative -- in other words, because this gets done all the time, then the next person must also do this.
If I have a son I'm going to let that hair grow out as long as it wants to. Heck, where born with are hair growing. At any point he decides he wants it cut, I will let him. I will tell him to think it out fully with lots of thought (wouldn’t you have wanted to have the awkward stage over with when you where like two or three). I would encourage him to be who he wants to be, not what others want him to be. My parents always wanted me to be like everyone else. They said it was so I would "fit in". I don't know if I could be a good father though. I have problems with how people are in this world. Like people who discriminate people about stupid things, that fight over religions, and a man with long !#$@%? hair. I wouldn’t want to pass such anger on to another human.
Logically, wouldn't it make sense to let him have long hair unless he complains about it or wants it cut? I have a lot of respect for long haired little guys... they're cool! ;)
Since toddler boys get into all kinds of messes and tangles, I think it's best to keep their hair short so they can enjoy being kids without hassles or accidents. Yet, I think as soon as they get old enough to articulate their views on hair-length, should they decide to wear it long to be just like their ultimate hero (Dad), Dad should have a good 'father-son' talk about how to be responsible for the hair's grooming and care as it grows long- as well as emphasizing that good things can come from persistance and hard work. Maybe after they've gotten it the same length as Dad's, then they'll be happy to work to master such skills as tae kwan do and tuba!
I'd say if a youg boy wants long hair, let him have long hair. Teach him how to keep it neat, clean and trimmed (just like we teach girls). I feel that long haired fathers are hypocrites to force short hair on their sons, especially if their son(s) want long hair. Besides, why not teach them early how to make decisions early about their hair, just like anything else (like clothes, food, TV shows, proper table manners, studying habits, etc.). Why are we still controlling boys hair (a part of the body) only (outdated thinking). Isn't this the 21st century?
yeah, but he needs to understand & be secure with the FACT that he will initially be a target not only to his peers but also adults who haven't learned the fine art of keeping their opinions to themselves. this can scar a child. i don't believe that there's a chronological age of readiness for this but their most certainly is an emotional age that needs to be reached before one should attempt to express his individuality.
K, I just linked to this site from "The Long Hair Website" for women, because I have a 18 year old son who's hair is almost to his lower back and so it's about 3 inches. Longer then mine. I was just checking out the site to see if he would be interested in it and came across this message.. so here goes.
As a mom with a 18 year old and a 6 year old, well it is a world of difference as to how cruel the world can be to them and how they handle it. The 6 year old, Benny doesn't have the skills to deal with grandma making comments. The 18 year old does. But lets not forget that the 18 year old started growing his hair out 3 years ago, and has to put up with considerable comments.. We live in the midwest. Although we live in Minneapolis, the surrounding area is not a hotbed for progressive ideas, much less different anything else. So it has been diffcult for him, but I supported his decision, and even encouraged it, he has beautiful black hair. The 6 year old, well we have been trying to keep it shorter, but it still gets pretty long before we cut it, he love long hair. Last week he informed me he wasn't cutting it anymore because he wants to grow it out like Jonny. That's his big brother, can't blame him, but I think he will change his mind once he realizes the work involve. After all little kids don't like to be bothered with stopping long enough to wash, brush, and floss, they just want to have fun, fun fun!
So there you have it.. I'd wait to see how the kid feels, but make sure you make the decision based on what is best for your kid, not you. Some kids can take peoples additude and turn it around onto the person who made the comment, some can't. Benny can't, Jon couldn't either as a young kid, but when he grew older he could. I think Benny will to.
Best Wishes, Debi