Is Childhood Over at 11?

Most parents today agree that their children now stop being kids by the time they reach the grand old age of 11.

The finding is based on a poll conducted 1,170 parents with children under 18 blames, 55 per cent of who said that childhood was over even before their kids began their teenage years.

The poll, for Random House Children's Books, showed that the reason kids were pushing parents to give them freedoms beyond their years was because they wanted to keep up with their older peers.

According to the survey, today’s teens are increasingly being allowed to drink alcohol, stay out late and sleep over at their boyfriend or girlfriend's house.

Dame Jacqueline Wilson, the former children's laureate and author, said that it was sad that 12year old girls were tottering about in high heels and revealing clothes.

"I know girls are desperate to look cool but I wish they didn't all want to wear very high heels and inappropriately tight trendy clothes," the Telegraph quoted her, as saying.

"I'm not saying all under-12s should wear puff-sleeved dresses and little white socks and tee-strap sandals but at least you could run about and play properly in them. And it seems so sad that girls feel embarrassed if they want to play with dolls past the age of six," she added.

The poll found that nearly three-fourth of the parents polled allowed their kids to drink at home before they reached the legal age of 18, and 45 percent permitted their 16-year-olds to spend the night at a boyfriend's or girlfriend's house.

It was also noted that more than 50 percent of the kids aged 16 were allowed to stay out till 11pm, and half were even allowed dyeing their hair and wearing make-up by the time they reached the age of 14.

Three-fourth of the parents admitted that their kids paid little attention when they laid down the law, and 72 percent admitted that they gave their kids more leeway than they had got as kids.

Source-ANI
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