Ian,
As a father of an eight year old daughter, it is something that really bothers me too . . . I guess kids have always wanted to grow up sooner, and we adults always want to go back to childhood.
What makes me crazy with Sophia is that her aunt buys her this stuff . . . makeup, lip gloss, eye shadow, etc. I told her last time she did this that Sophia looked like a streetwalker!
I am no prude either - I just wish we could let kids be kids longer - but media has put the pressure on kids and families to "keep up".
It is fine for little girls to play dress-up, and pretend, but when it becomes an every day thing in dress and appearance I think it is wrong. What is the right age? I don't know . . .
I just know that it is tons harder to be the father of a little girl than it was to be the father of a boy.