Are kids growing up too fast?

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Since the parent board is more about children on the spectrum I thought I'd ask here. My mom found out today that the 10 year old is playing with her make up (lipstick/eyeshadow etc.) dad says it's fine it makes her feel good. Mom is upset since she feels IT'S HER MAKEUP HER STUFF! etc. I have the view that kids and growing up faster in todays society the 10 year old said some of her friends are wearing it. Also she goes by popular opinion (example X girl didn't like my sister's shirt so sister refuses to wear that shirt since X girl didn't like it) So peer pressure (if you'd call it that) At 10! In 4th grade SHEESH!! !! !

Mom stands by not letting the 10 year old wear her make up (mom was wondering who was moving her makeup around) but like I said kids are growing up too fast. Both the 10 and 8 year old have cell phones now. (The 10 year old was immature and ran down her minutes texting etc. on a prepay phone basic $10 month minute plan but texts/email etc. COST MINUTES!) Mom stands by dating at 16 she mention today the way things are going she'll want to date at 12 LOL! What are your thoughts on this situation if any of you are parents out there of girls (NT/AS or whatever?)

Yes I do. Look at the children clothes and the girls underwear. I am already seeing toddler clothes that look so teenager. Even when I was in elementary school, there were 4th graders wearing make up and 5th and 6th graders.

I think that kids are growing up faster, nowadays. I really wish that fashion designers would realize that girls clothes should look more like what a child should wear, than what teens are wearing.

But I guess playing with the make up is ok, if it is just playing. Kids like to role play different roles and that is a normal thing, I guess.

i dont think it would be a big deal if sex education followed the trend. media has over sexualized everything, now all these kids dress like hookers and dance like whores, but they dont know why. they just know people like that. most places have no sex education. the ones that do come too late or the people that teach it purposly give bad info. if someone just gave these kids a no bull education about sex i think everything would be fine. until then i guess just sit back enjoy the sky high teen pregnancy rate and the fresh crop of strippers in a few years

I do agree in part with what you are saying, but I'm 40 and when I was ten, mom's makeup was fascinating. I imagine that's what your daughter is going through. Honestly? I've always let my daughter pick her own clothes...she's always been a great judge of what's appropriate. With makeup, I bought her powder and blush as a Christmas gift because she was going in mine at the time. She goes in and out of actually using it and is also a good judge of not wearing a lot (I can never tell she's wearing it and I think having it helps her feel more usual). But I have a daughter who honestly gets offended by too much skin being shown at the grocery store magazine stand. I know this is not everyone's experience.

Having grown up in a home where too many things were taboo and we were sheltered instead of taught about good choices, I think if someone is into the girly stuff, its not harmful. Honestly after my initial fascination wore off, I didn't wear the stuff. I only wear a little now.

That said, let's talk about tv and pop music. Ack!

Well, I grew up quick and was always held back by overly-conservative people. But then again I guess I'm an exception.

I'm no parent, but I don't think "growing up" is the problem. Rather, they are growing towards the wrong things, such as the excessive make-up culture and peer pressure.

Btw, my daughter is twelve and make-up interest started off and on at ten. Still now more off than on. At one point I said not to school or church, but she's so reasonable about clothes/makeup use that I don't say that anymore.

She got a cell phone when she went to middle school, but she's never been a fan of talking on the phone and hardly texts at all.

I just think help her make good choices with what is allowed and don't say no to requests that are reasonable.

Faster than days when they had to go to work in a coal mine, or be able to till a row behind a horse and plow by age 10? Or when having babies by age 12 was the norm, because you were expected to turn out a half dozen or more (to work the farm) before 30, since you couldn't be expected to live far beyond 40? I think Western Culture has an unhealthy delusion of childhood innocence and bliss. Its nice work if you can get it, and some of us have been very fortunate in that regard, but its not a birthright.

Kids may be aping grownup dress and behavior earlier than is good for them, but IMO many are not 'growing up' as in maturing psychologically, at all. But I still collect toys at 50, so what the Hell do I know? Maybe they're maturing at normal rate and we're just trying too hard to deny the extent to which we've aged beyond that level.


Dadgum kids! Get offa my lawn!

I don't even have kids (luckily) & still think they're growing up too fast. Society has made them lose their innocence

I'd say it's more like we make them grow like steroid injected cattle up until the age of about 14 and then stunt them there forevermore. A meteoric rise followed by a brick wall.

My wife and I joke that our daughter acts like a teenager at 18 months. We aren't exactly thinking about mature teenagers, though.

No. Good nutrician might contribute to faster physical maturation.

As Williard points out, historically much more has been expected of children, but I believe those children were much more mentally and intellectually mature than the children common to modern "first world" countries.

Indulging in behaviour that perhaps ought to be restricted to adults, and being spoilt materially does not a grown up or maturity make.

Yes I think you're right, kids do seem to be turning into teenagers before they're teenagers.

But I don't think there's a lot that can be done about it. Any parent who forbids their kids to do stuff they deem to be above their years is probably going to fail, and might even make things worse, as they'll make those things even more attractive as "forbidden fruit." I didn't forbid my son from doing anything, and he's turned out OK. Though beyond a brief flirtation with alcopops, he didn't really do much to worry me.

I suppose the media is partly to blame for the problem. And society itself seems to be getting coarser, though some would argue that people are just more open about what they do these days.

With having 6 kids and seeing the changes that have taken place, I have to say that what I think is happening is society is attempting to push children to a level that they, in many instances, are incapable, maturity wise, ready to handle.

Then add a household where the kids are latch-key (which ours are not) and they have no parent to vent, talk or ask help from until everyone is finally home and exhausted.

You see these ads where they suggest the family eat dinner together at least once a week...WTF...that's a family?

Sorry, we eat together every night, we talk about our day, the kids vent, ask questions. Home is suppose to be the haven from the outside world and I think a lot of kids no longer have the safe haven and that adds to it too.

Well said, FredOak.

Kids mimic behaviour and when they start mimicing behaviour they don't understand things can get out of hand. I'm all for letting children wear what they want, as long as it's explained to them how their choice of wardrobe will present them to the outside world.

Concerning cellphones, I've never liked them. I only have one because my parents insisted upon it, but for the more social among us I can see how it's a valuable tool, and as with any tool it's important to explain it's proper usage. The value of money needs to be taught before something as potentially costly as a cellphone is entrusted to children.