"But I don't wanna grow up!"

While young, we have many conflicts before us, especially with other people. There is a certain logic that follows young children around that a 'big kid' is anyone exactly their age and older, no matter how old they are. This is meant to include themself and exclude all of the 'underlings'. Ask my 3 year old brother, and he'll tell you emphatically, "I'm a big kid!" Same with my 6 year old and 9 year old sisters. "I'm a big kid!" At that point, kids really aren't very big, but they want to feel big. However, as they grow up everything just gets even bigger, not just their clothes, their shoe size, their backpack, and their appetite. Not only do they want to feel bigger, but they are being pushed in that direction constantly. Today's American society is encouraging children to grow up faster than ever before.

There is a huge contrast between the expectations and privileges of children today as opposed to when their parents were children. Children now are much more protected, sheltered, watched over, and restricted than they were in the past. My parents tell me stories all the time about how they blew up this, sledded down that, drove through this, and my response is always, "I could never do that now!" Children are expected to be more adult-like at a younger age, being able to use self-restraint to obey their parents perfectly. They end up foregoing those children's fantasies of what it would be like if Dad actually let you steer as he drove, or if he pulled you in the sled behind the car. Not that they shouldn't be protected of course, because all you have to do is watch the news and it's scary what terrible things go on in Happy Valley. A shooting in my neighborhood, a hit and run accident near BYU... Children should be protected. But should their childhood be torn from their grasp so soon? It's one thing to act mature, it's another thing completely to be an adult.

Parents are also expecting more and more out of their kids. School competition is ever growing, whether it be in academics, sports, or other extracurricular activities, and parents want their kids on top. Other parents demand their kids be employed, when they didn't even consider a job when they were the age of their child. Not only are parents raising expectations. but children are wanting to act as old as they possibly can get away with. (And then when we get older we do things to make ourselves look younger... hmm...) I read a news article about how some 5th graders have cell phones and text away to their friends about someone else, and how American children are growing up faster and faster. It talks about how they are acting like teenagers before they leave the elementary school! You even start to see relationships among elementary schoolers who think they know what 'love' is. Fads and fashion become important to a younger and younger audience, and you find Elementary school kids listening to Green Day, Kelly Clarkson, and even Metallica.

This isn't far-fetched either. It's no surprise that if children have cell phones, iPods, the latest fashion of clothes, the same music as their parents, and other items found generally among those 5-10 years older, why should they not engage in other adult behaviors? It's been said that with great power comes great responsibility. Do children know how to be responsible with what they're given? Some kid called 911 forty-nine times on his cell phone because he thought it was funny. Growing up too quickly too young leads to other adult behaviors. Underage drinking, smoking, illegal drugs, immoral behaviors, young gangs, and other illegal actions are more prevalent now than ever before.

Overall, the pressure comes from nearly everyone to 'just grow up.' Kids compete with each other for everything and feel important and mature to act all 'grown up'. Adults often lose patience without seeing the spark of childhood behind the spilled paint or their dented car because of a youthful action. Teachers expect more and more out of their students as graduation requirements are constantly on the rise. Advertisements for cell phones appeal not just to adults, but to kids. "The Disney Go Phone!" DJs play older-people music on Radio Disney. Furthermore, when we hear the term "Adult" as applied to entertainment nowadays, we assign it an R (or worse) rating because we know it's immoral, perverse, and something we definitely wouldn't want kids to see. Is that a symbol of what America is growing up to? "You were a kid, but you grew up so you can watch this movie full of sleaze and filth now." With kids growing up faster, objects previously far out of reach are trickling down into their open hands, unmoderated by anyone. Will this part of "adult"-hood be grabbed as well? I sure hope not. But while kids are young, let them enjoy childhood safely before it's gone. They've only got one shot at being a kid, and don't we all miss those days...