Was childhood ever innocent?
Children are growing up too fast, says a leading author. But hasn't society always worried that young people are experiencing adulthood too soon?
Fat, spoilt, feral and stupid. Who would be a child or teenager today? They even miss-time their coming-of-age, apparently.
"I think children act like adults at an alarmingly early age," said Dame Jacqueline Wilson, who has sold more than 30 million books. Her remarks came as a poll by her publisher suggested that more than half of parents believe childhood is now over by 11.
But a glance through recent history shows that adults have long raised concerns about children "growing up" too quickly. Did they always?
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Fat, spoilt, feral and stupid. Who would be a child or teenager today? They even miss-time their coming-of-age, apparently.
"I think children act like adults at an alarmingly early age," said Dame Jacqueline Wilson, who has sold more than 30 million books. Her remarks came as a poll by her publisher suggested that more than half of parents believe childhood is now over by 11.
But a glance through recent history shows that adults have long raised concerns about children "growing up" too quickly. Did they always?