It really doesn’t get much better than being a little kid. Napping during the day is an acceptable activity. Your metabolism has no trouble burning off your Lucky Charms. And you’re cool on the playground if your shoelaces are two different colors.

Childhood should be the one time in your life when personal appearance and body image are the last things on your mind.

That’s why our staff was so outraged this past week when we heard about the birthday present Sarah Burge gave to her 7-year-old daughter, Poppy.

The 50-year-old plastic surgery addict known as the Human Barbie presented young Poppy with a voucher for a breast augmentation. Poppy was, in turn, delighted by the gift.

OK, so the voucher isn’t to be used until after Poppy is 16, but does that make it any less wrong? If it became legal for Poppy to get the surgery even younger, would Burge let her?

It may be cliché to ask the question, “What has our world become?” Yet, is there any other question that comes to mind when hearing about something like this?

Possibly more disturbing than Burge giving her daughter the voucher, was Poppy thinking to ask for a surgery voucher.

Poppy, who Burge also taught to pole dance when she was six, is quoted as saying: “I wanted a new computer, a holiday and a voucher for surgery. When I got it all, it was a dream come true.”

What 7-year-old child has the word “voucher” in her vocabulary? At that age shouldn’t you want to play with a Barbie instead of become a Barbie?

For children that age to have a desire for plastic surgery or other enhancements is harmful to their self-esteem as well as how they view other people. Stressing the importance of beauty to children can only increase their chances of ending up in therapy. What happened to encouraging children to accept their natural beauty and be who they are?

Clearly, these days have passed, and Burge is clearly part of a growing trend of mothers who feel their daughters need to be perfect.