I have a tattoo that I got in college, and it has been a source of fascination for my daughter for a few years now. She first noticed it when she was very young, and I found her looking at the same spot on her body. Her question was why she did not have one where I did. I explained that I chose to have one on there, and that this is not something people are born with. She asked if she could get one, and of course I told her she had to wait until she was an adult. However, that did not stop her from coming up with her own fake tattoos so she could be just like me.
Her type of fake tattoos are not safe. She decided to try marker first, and then she snuck away with an ink pen. I was pretty sure that both should not be on her skin, as the ink can be drawn into the body. After a lot of scrubbing, I removed her fake tattoos, but that only deterred her for a little while. Before I knew it, the memory of the scrubbing faded, and she was back to doing the same thing. Though I thought it was cute that she wanted to be like me, I knew this version of a tattoo was not safe for her. Thankfully, she has finally outgrown that phase.
I think she got over it when she discovered that there were other types of fake tattoos out there, and these were ones that I did not mind her using. She first got one in a Valentine’s Day greeting from one of her classmates. She asked me what it was, and when I told her it was a fake tattoo, her eyes got big and she asked if she could use it. I explained how it worked and that it would not last very long, but she was okay with that. We put it on and she was a happy little girl. I hope this means her days of drawn-on fake tattoos are over with for good.
When looking for fake tattoos today, there are many different kinds. Some are made for kids, but there are also some that anyone can use. Children tend to go for more simple things like a kitty or a flower, and some adult types of pretend tattoos might be a bit more complicated. Some come off with water, and some require baby oil for removal. Not only are fake tattoos a lot of fun, they can be a great reward for a child that has done well. They can also be great favors for things like Halloween when parents want to keep the candy to a minimum.