Child development experts hold the view that certain physical and behavioral changes that epitomizes teens have now been shifted towards ‘tweens’, that is, kids aged between 8 to 12.
The ‘tweens’ prefer to pave their own way without any body’s interference. For instance, they are fond of growing hair especially ten-year-old lads like, Zach Plante. Then they needn’t require any escort on bike ride to school.
Some of them talk about their latest fad, that is, cell phones and are going on ‘dates’. They listen to sexually charged pop music, play mature-rated video games and spend time gossiping on MySpace.
The girls too are engrossed in their make-ups and clothing that are otherwise considered beyond their years.
Shift in the behavioral patterns:
This shift in the behavioral patterns among tweens is really bothering parents and professionals who are handling them. For instance, when some kids play together at either ones place, they feel irritated if their parents distract them and would answer back in just ‘OK’ without taking much cognizance of the matter.
Parents are worried whether the kids would be able to tackle effectively the major problems that’ll come along with the growing age.
Dr. Liz Alderman, an adolescent medicine specialist at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City says,
‘I’m sure this isn’t the first time in history people have been talking about it. But I definitely feel like these kids are growing up faster — and I’m not sure it’s always a good thing.’
She and her associates confer that it’s happening are both physical and social.
Reasons, which have, lead to the complex shift:
Various studies states that some ‘tweens’ bodies are developing faster, with more girls starting menstruation in elementary school. The factor could be because of improved nutrition and obesity among girls while the cases of boys are under scrutiny.
Technology and consumerism have accelerated the pace of life so much that they have acquired more stuff than required at their age. Media have also played havoc with their lives, since television is featuring R-rated movies nearly everyday due to which, they are exposed to sex, violence and foul language.
Kids try to dress and behave like adults, which is the effect of media on them.
Zcah’s dad who is a psychology professor at Santa Clara University in California’s Silicon Valley asserts that it is the result of the those parents who have forgotten to set limitations to handle their kids.
In addition to this, the other aspects could be peer pressure and societal influences.
Billie Wickstrom, of suburban Atlanta, Georgia, mother of ten-year-old Natalie Wickstrom, hints that it’s all because of peer pressure.
Her little girl too is asking for an iPod because her friends have it. Then she wants a cell phone and her ear to be pierced only because her peers have already done it.
Alderman, the physician in New York points that cultural influences too have affected the children. She adds, ‘Physically, they’re adults, but cognitively, they’re children.’
How to handle this problem:
Alderman says that instead of feeling agitated over questions that are far above their age, parents should quench their curiosity as it would ‘normalizes’ them later.
While some parents are of the view that since the influence is from peers to the Internet and TV, so it is a bit difficult to combat.
Even if they put restrictions on their TV channels, the kids would acquire the info from their friends with whom they interact at schools.
Although some of the parents are still hankering around to strike a balance between setting limits and allowing their kids to be more independent.
Thus, the only way to curb the problem is by providing open atmosphere for kids, which corresponds to solving their queries effectively, setting particular limitations to them, and making them aware of it.
