Are children too old for their age?

I have been thinking the same thing for a while now, and at times I feel that in some ways we are robbing our kids of their childhood. They have responsibilities that we didn't have when we were kids. They have karate belts to win, swimming mets to complete, piano lessons, ballet lessons.... These are all good things, but on the other hand they are left with little time to be just kids. Then we are looking at videos, movies even commercials that show kids in a much more mature way, with clothes that are anything but child like. We teach them and expect them to make decisions, choices, think for themselves... again all this is positive, but with all this they are left with no time or choices to be what they are - kids. It's a double edged thing though, because those things are important too...it's complicated at the least I think :)

I think they are when I listen to them they are so far advanced it is unreal but I think it is more Girls then Boys though

Children are very sensitive for encouragement and learning progress. They need the support from adults or guardians from their environment to grow up well balanced. Therefore, it is very important to know that the adults or parents play an important role for building self confidence in children. These days they play more inside home that the same age before use to play.They watch too much tv. I think this is the most important cause they seem older. The food has an important role too. BEfore it was more healthier.So we must encorage our children to play more with each other in the nature and stop them to watch all the time TV

Children seem to be maturing faster these days, don't they? I did a search on the things that added hormones have done to those of us that have been around since this started and was shocked. The study says this can actually be linked to early puberty and basically may "speed up our years". It doesn't seem right that this was done to Mass produce and may actually be causing more harm than good.

Good discussion topic! I think they are definitely, my 8 year old sister has a PSP & a PS3, the closest thing I ever got to that at 8 years old was a clapped-out Nintendo. I also recall seeing a girl, maybe of the age of around 8 or 9, texting on a mobile phone! I think that that's ridiculous to be honest. It seems like the children are acting older and adults are acting like kids these days! haha

Beleive it or not but children are maturing faster then when I was a kid. Girls didn't mature till they wher 14 years old, but now it is as early as 8 years old. The same with boys! My 13 year old is already asking if she could date. God help me !

for in this years children is growing up easly in there age, the way the talk, dress up, & move, not like us before even we are already 20 yrs old look like a kid still, not same like our children in this generation.

i was also a daughter dressing to mature for his age. The teacher at school was always arguing me, so did my grandmother, but never my mother. I had very short dresses, lot's of make up, high heel shoes...ahh, those times, but now i overpass that. I finnaly understood that u don't have to show to much skin to be atractive. And i think that my mother attitude made me realised, because she never forbidden me to dress like that. When she's gonna be 18 she would think different.

Yes. they sure are. My daughter is now 16 but she has always wanted to do adult things as far as I can remember. she has grown up way too fast and I have tried to slow it down, but it just does not work. She has always wanted to do whatever the adults are doing, no matter what. She wanted to mature alot faster than when I was growing up. I enjoyed being a kid and she has never taken the time to do that. I think she wanted to drive at age two, LOL.

As for the part about being dressed to look much older than their ages of 6 and 8, at those young ages I would think that you would have control over their attire so maybe donate or sell the clothing that makes them appear older and wait to buy those styles in several more years when they are more mature. Mine are both boys, 7 & 10, so it's not as much of an issue in our home but I have noticed many little girls wearing clothes that I would certainly never purchase for a preteen. Good luck! :)

Yes, kids are much more grown up than I was as a kid, but there again, I wonder if I really did ever grow up! LOL

Yes, most children are older than their ages, but it is not necessarily a bad thing! Make sure to do the best for them while they are under five years old, as they are so independent after that age! Time has a way of going by rather quickly when you are busy, like raising children!