5 Ways We're Treating Children Like Adults
Author: Dr Robyn Silverman

Are kids really allowed to be kids these days? I'm not so
sure.

Here are 5 ways children are being pushed to behave like
little adults way too early in their lives:

(1) Stuck inside: Remember when our parents would tell us
to go outside and play? Many children are playing inside
these days out of fear, laziness, or caretaker excuses
(i.e. too cold, too much mulch, not appropriate jackets).
But children need outside play for physical, social, and
cognitive development. They also need it in order to get
in touch with nature—if we want them to care about
it, they need to interact with it!

(2) Going to the gym: The news has recently shown a new
trend emerging. Children are going to the gym instead of
doing more tradition after-school programs like ballet,
martial arts, and gymnastics! In fact, last year, 1.3
million children between the ages of 6 to 11 were members
of a health club (IHRSA). What ever happened to monkey
bars, bike riding, and swimming? Shouldn't we feel
concerned that by the time these children feel they "have
to" go to the gym (as adults), they'll be bored of doing it!

(3) Medicated: The AAP has now started recommending
statins, traditionally and adult medication, for children
as young as 8 years old in order to lower cholesterol.
Experts tell us that this can be very dangerous. In
addition, we're setting up children to be on these
medications for life. It's another push-button response to
a fast-paced world.

(4) Waxed: This will likely infuriate you or at least cause
you to shake your head. Parents are taking their children
to get "waxed" just like Mommy. Some of the children are
as young as 6 years old. Salons are removing what they call
"virgin hair" from their legs, arm pits, or other areas.
The trend is becoming more and more common. In fact, the
International Spa Association says that over half of the
14,000 spas in the U.S. offer packages for families, teens
or children.

(5) Overfed: They might call them kid's meals but they are
anything but. Studies are showing that the majority of
kids menus st fast food restaurant chains are too high in
calories, fat, and sodium for children. Some meals can
pack over 70% of a child's daily calories into one meal!

So are we really allowing kids to be kids? You be the
judge. Seems to me that we're heading in the wrong
direction—and fast.


About the Author:

Child development expert, Dr. Robyn Silverman, provides
easy-to-follow tips to parents and educators. Known as the
Character Queen, she's the creator of the Powerful Words
Character Toolkit. Her tips have been in Prevention and
Parents Magazines and she's been a guest on the national
radio show with Dr. Drew Pinsky. For more info or to
contact Dr. Robyn, visit her website at
http://www.DrRobynSilverman.com or blog at
http:///www.DrRobynsBlog.com