Is there proof, why, and is it a bad thing that America's children have begun to act older at a younger age?

Question

I have noticed a steep rise in the maturity of younger children in our naiton. Is this do to puberty occuring sooner in more children or is it do to pop culture or responsibilities our nation's children are forced to withstand at an earlier age? Is there scientific evidence of this or do children choose to act older than they truly are?

Answer 1

After teaching high school for several years, I am pretty sure that it's the PARENTS' fault, in most cases, for not supervising their kids or putting limits on their dress and behavior. No rap song or video is going to make an independent, well-informed kid suddenly dress like a gangsta or ho!

When I taught health, I'd poll the kids to see which ones had parents who even discussed DRUGS and SEX with them, much less style. The sad results were that, out of a class of 25-30 kids, you were lucky to see THREE kids whose parents were even around enough to discuss anything!

The parents, yes the same ones who whine and moan about "lack of discipline" and "evil" video games, are either too busy working overtime so they can get that Lexus or vacation house, or else they're out scoring crack!

The schools USED to pick up this slack left by the parents, but recent cuts by Republicans in Congress, have made teaching math an iffy thing, let alone hiring teachers and counselors to do what PARENTS should be doing!

I have no sympathy for today's parents...and they are far too quick to blame everyone but themselves. As soon as Johnny takes a Tec 9 to school and plugs a few people or Heather gets HIV from prostitution, or a carload of kids kills someone while joyriding, high on the drug of the month, they wail and say on the evening news, "He/she was always such a good boy/girl! We never thought this would happen"!

Cripes...WAKE UP and smell the parental laziness!

Answer 2

My daughter (almost 2 1/2) is only 18 months older than my son (11 months). She has been like a little mommy from the day he came home. She likes to help take care of him. She also runs to him when he is crying (of course, can't pick him up at her age, but I'm sure she would if she could). She even tells me that he is crying. Sometimes she attempts to translate cries, telling me when he is hungry or wants a hug. They do sometimes fight over toys, but for the most part they have a great relationship, and I love seeing how close they have become in such a short time :)

Answer 3

I believe the media is to blame. The actors are almost always 10 years older than the role they are playing. I see people in their 20s playing teenagers all the time. Then they are always talking about sex and other things that no REAL teenagers really talk about. The REAL teenagers see this on television, and since they are teenagers and don't know any better, they think that is how everybody looks and acts. it's bad for self esteem if you think your suppose to look like a 18 year old who's 25.

Answer 4

I can't think of who it was or by... it was in a psychology book from college. It said something about them maturing at earlier ages because of the technology available to them, their increasing responsibilities as their parents are divorced and the one they live with has two jobs and they are forced to take care of themselves and younger siblings, and the culture that even in the commercials a girl of age 10 is on the phone, listening to the latest music by an underdressed and underfed popstar and looking at a fashion magazine that's now aimed at girls their age. Personally, I think it is bad, they're trying to grow up faster and missing things that are emotionally, physically, and socially crucial to their development.

Answer 5

its those darn video games and rap music.