'She's going to be trouble' say trolls as four-year-old 'acts like a teenager'
As children, we all wanted to grow up – and this little four-year-old is no exception.
Halston, four, is all about singing and dancing — and as her mom, Madison Fisher, recently revealed, her little toddler is also obsessed with “being beautiful.”
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In fact, the girl loves being an adult so much that the mother thinks she's actually a “teenager,” admitting that Halston “takes it so seriously.”
Madison, believed to be from the US, also recently posted a video of the child pretending to be much older than her age, but the now viral video was quickly criticized by social media users, who insisted the behavior was anything but 'cute'.
In the images, shared on Halston's own Instagram pagethe four-year-old could be seen walking around the house in stylish cowboy boots, paired with a mini bag, and carrying a large phone.
As she walked past her mother who was filming her child's funny behavior, Halston was asked if she was “a real teenager” — to which the little girl immediately responded, “yes.”
''4 year old teenager? She's so serious about it,” the mom wrote in the video's caption alongside a few laughing emojis.
But while she may have found the pose funny, people on Instagram were anything but impressed, as thousands rushed to the comments to share their thoughts.
Many thought the mother of five would be in for a surprise as Halston gets older, with one warning her: ''She's going to be trouble''.
Someone else was just as baffled, wondering: ''Omg, sorry, but why doesn't she play with toys and wear colorful and ridiculous clothes like us?''
Another said: 'This is just sad. Not funny. Another child without a childhood.
“No rush to be an adult, you know, she'll be an adult most of her life.”
“Kids at Sephora are like:” wrote a fourth.
It wasn't all negative though, as there were also a lot of people who thought the pretend game was completely harmless fun.
One person hit back at the haters, writing: 'The outfit is completely appropriate even if it's dress-up and her attitude is clearly pretend.
“She's cute and I miss doing things like this with my little nieces.”
“4 years old and already an icon,” a supportive Instagram user added.
Another agreed, adding: ''For people taking it too seriously, CHILL it's not that deep!!
'It's just a kid dressing up in a cute outfit! She's a girly girl and that's totally fine!! She's a rock star. ''
At some point, all parents are faced with the dilemma of whether or not their child is ready for a phone. So at what age should you give your child one?
Carolyn Bunting, CEO of e-safety organization Internet Matters said: “Every child is different and whether it's a sign of maturity or peace of mind, parents intuitively know the right age for their child to get a smartphone.”
Tony Neate, CEO of Go online safelyadded: “The crucial point is to start introducing online safety as soon as they go online – whether that's on a laptop or tablet at home or on their first mobile – so internet safety is just one essential part of being online.
“We encourage you to make this conversation part of your daily life so that it becomes natural for children to discuss any safety concerns with their parents.”
Which phone is safe for a child at what age?
If you think your kids are ready for a phone, there are kid-friendly models available on the market.
For the most part, kids are ready for a phone by age 13. However, this depends on the maturity of the child and the need for the device.
Ofcom recommends using a standard handset if your child just needs a way to contact you in an emergency or to send short text messages.
If your kids just want to download apps, watch videos, or surf the Internet, your best bet is to buy a tablet.
If you stick to a phone, look for devices like the Monqi Kids Smartphone that allow parents to set limits on browsing, downloading and texting.