Do you think a parent has full control over how fast a child grows up?

Question

I do not mean *growth*......I mean like a 10 year old acting and behaving like a 16 year old.

Answer 1

I am glad you asked this because lately my daughter who is only five is concerned with what she wears to daycare, or how her hair looks and ug, I just dont ever remember caring at that age.

Answer 2

a parent doesn't have full control over ANYTHING

Answer 3

Absolutely not. They may have control on how much they consume, but every child is different. Parents dont control metabolism and the childs own genetic growth. Each child grows at a different rate.

As well as personal growth, many things contibute to this, community, education, peers, personal opportunity, and personality.

Answer 4

I believe that the parent has FULL control over how fast their kids mature/grow up. My 13 year old stepdaughter (that my hubby never knew about, long story) moved in with us a few months ago. She is incredibly mature for her age. Her mother used to take her on some back roads and let her drive. I took her out on some back roads near us a while back to see how 'good' she is. Ha, she's an incredible driver---a 13 year old! LOL. Anyway, I *try* not to shelter my kids. It's hard, but I try to give them as much independence as possible. I also should say that the amount of independence you give your child completely determines how mature they are, but, the amount of independence a child has, is determined by the parents, hence making the parents the controllers of how fast their kids grow up.

Very interesting question, here's a star. =]

~Kate  

Answer 5

No - not unless you keep them totally isolated from society, and that would be a very unhealthy thing to do.  You can only influence your children so much, the rest comes from outside contacts, like friends.

Answer 6

Some of the ways children are growing up too fast nowadays include little girls wearing earrings and makeup well before their teens and dressing inappropriately, children with gadgets (cell phones, Ipods, etc) that they really have no need of at young ages, etc.  In that regard, yes, parents have full control.  

I was once flipping channels during daytime television (you know what a drag that can be sometimes) and ran across an episode of a daytime talk show where there were parents on there who couldn't understand why their 8-year-old daughters were dressing like whores.  My question is: how does an 8-year-old get clothes?  You've got to buy them for her.  So don't buy her inappropriate and immodest clothes or wear them yourself and it shouldn't be a problem.  Those are the kinds of things that parents have full control over.

As far as how much exposure they have to these things--you can limit a lot of exposure in your own home by monitoring what they watch on TV and see on the Internet, but you have very little control over what they will see and hear at school from their peers.  You do have the opportunity to teach about age-appropriateness when you hear of what they've learned from their peers though and regain some of that control.  

Answer 7

Abso-fricken-lutely!

I have a 5 year old daughter who is very respectful, doesn't dress inappropriately and has a wonderful attitude (except where her little brother is concerned).

I don't let her eat all kinds of crep and soda.  She watches what I decide to let her watch on TV.  (and you may mock me) but I have never even let her watch Spongebob or anything of that caliber. She watches educational TV, things that have a good message, not f**t jokes.

I don't buy her toys like Bratz dolls or (what is that other S****y doll called?) she doesn't watch Hannah Montana or Barbie Diaries.

Teaching our girls of today that it's ok to not dress like a s**t for attention. That its ok to be smart and have a good self image!

Answer 8

Not full control.  Sometimes children go through certain experiences that can either hinder or help how fast they mature mentally and emotionally.  I was sexually molested as a child.  It made me mature light years ahead of most 7 year olds due to the severity of the matter.

Obviously a parent should model maturity in the home and that certainly can affect a child's speed of maturing and growing up.  If all they see is childish behavior then that is what they will display.  If they see good, calm, firm parents then that is what they will display.