Everything is changing so rapidly in our society it is hard to get a grasp on the way it is effecting children. Everything is speeding up, including in some ways, the growth of children. I can't help but feel that childhood used to be something that was more cherished and guarded; however, now you can't go anywhere without seeing the media advertising for things only adults should be worried about. The clothes they sell at childrens' clothing stores look closer to something Snooki from "Jersey Shore" would wear than the clothes I wore as a child.
The hurriedness of our society puts children in a position where they are often exposed to things which have a trickle-down effect that can actually alter their physiological state. One theory some researchers have is that a reason many young girls are starting to menstruate so early is because of the huge amount of sex in the media. I am not talking T.V. only either; I am talking about billboards, magazines, you name it.
Something the author of The Hurried Child talk about, is the fact that many children of divorced parents are forced to play the role of a peer or even a mediator for their parents. Being thrown into a very adult role can have a deep effect on a child and alter the physiological and psychological course.
I absolutely agree that our society is putting children at risk for exposure to things too early that could have major negative effects on their development. The media has always presented an "image" of the perfect girl and guy. It may have changed over the years, but it's always been there. It creates this immense amount of pressure for people everywhere to live under while also creating incredibly high standards to reach. Sometimes I'm horrified about the things I see younger girls wearing or talking about. But they're a product of this time period and they're really not the ones to blame. It's just such an interesting topic that I bet doesn't typically cross people's minds, ya know?
ReplyDeleteI think that kids especially young girls are in a rush to grow up. This is a regular topic of debate in my house with my 13 year old, who often pushes the envelope. Many of her friends are allowed to do things that I do not feel she is ready for yet. This is a source of much irritation and frustration for her. A common cry from her is " you don't trust me " What I tell her is that I trust that I have raised you well, part of that is not putting you in situations you are not emotionally ready to handle. I try to suggest alternatives that are more in keeping with her emotional maturity, sometimes it works sometimes it doesn t . But at the end of the day I think she s often relieved that she doesn t have to make some of the choices her friends have had to make.
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