These days, everything seems to be coming sooner to the younger generation, those of us on Whyville. Drinking, drugs, inappropriate behavior, bad influences and the sheet of fame and fortune that beckons us seems to be hitting us head on at a much younger age than our parents. It's a different century, yes, but being exposed to the real world at such an age can be well dangerous. Disastrous.
What is the definition of "childhood"? 1. The state or period of being a child. 2. The early stage in the existence of something.
It seems so simple. When we think of the word childhood, what do we imagine? Ice creams stacked high on crumbling cones? Playing soccer in the yard with rowdy neighborhood friends, matted hair and dirt under your fingernails? The exhilaration of being free and having a good time? For you, personally, what is the first image that pops into your mind when you think of childhood?
It is different for almost everybody, but I think we can think of at least one moment in our childhood that we cherish. Absolute happiness and freedom, the stress-free state of being a kid.
And even though, like how we imagine childhood, our ideas of what the ages of childhood are differ, that age is getting narrower and narrower. You might still look like a child, act like a child, and your parents still treat you like a child, but some of the things that we are exposed to might not be quite so child-like.
I don't think I need to spend so much time going over the different things that influence kids these days. MTV, movie lives and images, drugs and alcohol, maybe in their family, maybe just enclosing in the world around them. War. Shooting in at such a young age.
Even though your best friend's sister is 11, what does she know that an 11 year-old shouldn't?
The thing is that we can't do anything about it, really. Kids are being brought to face what the real world is in their childhood, knowing things that might sadden and dishearten them, but we can't do anything. We can't shield them from substance abuse, death, poverty and dirty things that teenagers are getting used to by now. There isn't a way. But most people don't realize how fast children are growing up these days. Not only their bodies, but their minds taking in so much more that it should, or maybe shouldn't. I got some opinions of Whyvillians about how young is too young in some situations.
Glitsygrl: What age do you think kids should be allowed to have boyfriends/girlfriends? What do you think of "relationships" at this age?
Holiday50: Most kids start liking each other when they're about 10 years old. I think it's okay to have a boyfriend/girlfriend at this age. But I don't think they should do what couples do on TV, and kiss constantly. They should get more intimate when they're older and going into their preteens. Then they'll be more ready because that's when kids have school dances and boy/girl parties. No one should go too fast if they feel they're not ready.
Skookum0: I think that kids shouldn't have a girlfriend/boyfriends until middle school. Even then, only practice with romantic relationships. Nothing too serious until high school.
Mcrchik3: I think the youngest age is 11 to have a boyfriend/girlfriend.
Kindell: Well, I was first allowed to have a boyfriend at the age of 12. I think it was a bad idea for my parents to let me have a boyfriend then. I think that kids should be allowed to have boyfriends whenever they become mature enough. Meaning, that it could be any age as long as the parent feels they are ready to take it on. I think relationships, at least at my age level (freshman), are not taken seriously. The guys frequently use the girls and the girls act like it's okay. I'm not saying that I'm innocent, because I've fallen for their tricks before. And girls aren't completely innocent either. They use guys also. It's like a mind game and I'm so over it.
Glitsygrl: So many kid stars are popping up these days. Do you think the older generation of stars are a good influence on them?
Holiday50: I don't think all of the older generation stars are a good influence. The media likes to show off celebrities who break the law. Going into the business, kid stars have to be really smart and have someone to guide them in the right direction.
Skookum0: No. Stars like Lindsey Lohan, for example are setting a bad image for child stars. If Lindsey Lohan was a child star's idol, that would be, well, bad.
Mcrchik3: I do think an older influence is good.
Kindell: Well, I really don't think that kids should be 'stars' because that's like taking away their childhood. Besides that, I think that it depends who you look at in the older generation of stars . . . you can't put all of the older generation in one box.
Glitsygrl: What do you think of the increasingly lowering age of kids and teens using drugs and alcohol?
Holiday50: I think the drinking age should be the twenties, because that's when kids graduate high school and are more mature. People are really irresponsible in their teenage years and they express their anger by speeding, drinking, or by using violence. A lot of teenagers have their driver's license, and if they get the alcohol privilege too early they'll mix drinking and driving.
I don't think teens should do drugs, or experiment with drugs at all. The side effects from drugs are life-altering, and can change the way you think. But you can't stop someone from trying, even if they know all the consequences. If someone does try drugs, then they should think it out and only try a small bit.
Skookum0: I think it is terrible that kids are exposed to drugs and alcohol at such young ages. This may be partially because kids see all of these "cool" beer commercials on T.V. all of the time.
Mcrchik3: I think it's horrible that kids and teens use drugs.
Kindell: I think it's pathetic. People who use drugs and alcohol obviously have major issues. My friend, Chris and I, were actually talking about this the other day. It's just sad that our generation has such a low self-esteem that we have to look to drugs and alcohol to feel loved.
So how young is too young? This question comes up in so many different situations in life. Some answers are the law. Others, you decide. How young is too young to watch this? To know about this? What should I do for my younger siblings?
But, the truth is, everyone has to learn sometime about the world, however fast those experiences seem to come.
Glitsygrl
