Tangent 21 - End of the innocence?

Posted by
Teresa

Posted on
13:13
Jul 22 2002

End of the innocence?

Just wondering what age people were when they started to notice the difference between boys & girls? I ask this because of some of the comments my children have been coming out with.

Today my 3 year old came out with "I can see your jubblies" when he came in the bedroom and saw me getting dressed (I have his father to thank for that one

) and my 5 year old often tells me after he's been swimming that he has the biggest willy in his class. When I was that age I knew there was a difference, but not enough to comment on it.

Also I took Billy to the park the other day where they have a huge paddling pool. When I was little we thought nothing of running around naked (ok, I've been known to do it while drunk quite recently

) but all the children at the park had their swimming cossies on. The boys always run around naked in our garden (it's totally enclosed and not looked over by anyone else) but I just think how awful it is how times have changed and our children don't have the freedom that they should be enjoying

7 Replies and 978 Views in Total.

Sydney You can lead the whore to culture but you can't make her think!

It does seem like kids are becoming aware of these things earlier and earlier. In the winter we caught my 9 year old sister writing "I 'heart' JH" in the snow and she was very embarressed to be caught so she knew exactly what the implications were. I'm sure i wasn't thinking about boys in any way other than how best to beat them up at that age

Having said that i do think girls are almost forced to grow up quicker through the clothes and magazines that are aimed at the "Tweenie" market. I'm hardly a prude but I really think that some of the clothes availiable in places like Tammy Girl are totally inappropriate for the age group, clothes like mini skirts, one sleeve & bustier style tops and low slung hipster lace almost totally see through trousers. You can even get push up bra's and thongs aimed at 8 yr old girls nowadays.

Posted: 13:22 Jul 22 2002

Green_Amber Duct tape is like the force: It has a dark side, a light side, and it holds the universe together.

My 2 nieces have been rather 'indulged' and have managed to grow into GIANTS my 11 year old niece is taller than me :eek: and pretty well developed. She buys size 14 clothes, and is allowed to buy very skimpy outfits - I've been really embarrassed at some of the outfits she's worn to go out in with our family. She is now on to her second boyfriend - she was devastated when the first one dumped her

In comparison my 2 girls are quite small for their age, and look like children. I am also careful to buy them clothes that reflect their status as children. Mind you Nicole has had a crush on a boy at school recently - he's 'cute' apparently, but got fed up when he kept running away from her in the playground!

We were in a park on Saturday that has a paddling pool, and their were a few children running around with just underwear on, or even some nekkid ones - and all I thought was - 'How sweet, and what fun they're having'
You're right T it is a real shame the way things are going - but how to change it?

Posted: 14:30 Jul 22 2002

Jola

Unfortunately it seems to be the way of the world now.

I'm a strong believer in "let children be children" let them enjoy life etc etc as it sure as hell doesn't get any easier when you grow up

In my street when I was a child there were loads of us that played out front, left front doors open etc and had a great time. Now they still play outside, but with adult supervision (the parents take it in turns to sit outside) and all doors are closed.

I'm lucky as Georgia is still a baby, but in a few years (that will no doubt fly by) I'll have to teach her to be "streetwise" and tell her of the dangers that are out in the BIG bad world

Oh how I wish we could turn back the clock to happier carefree times

Posted: 15:15 Jul 22 2002

sara-angel

Jola, didnt Georgia already want to go to "the boys"? wasnt that at Eclipse?lol

Posted: 16:32 Jul 22 2002

DJ Billy You can't really dust for vomit.

by Jola
In my street when I was a child there were loads of us that played out front, left front doors open etc and had a great time. Now they still play outside, but with adult supervision (the parents take it in turns to sit outside) and all doors are closed.

That's what we used to do too. These days there aren't the open spaces there used to be and the roads are busier. We'd be happy to hang around and play football all day but nowadays kids either seem to be stuck inside watching TV or hanging round in groups outside the local Victoria Wine.

I think it also has a lot to do these days with people being so much more aware of the dangers. You hear of several occasions when there have been abductions, or attempted abductions of children from right outside their houses. I also imagine parents are less likely to allow their kids to run round naked because of the fear of perverts hiding in the bushes with video cameras

Posted: 18:19 Jul 22 2002

Ferretgirl Make something idiot-proof and they will make a better idiot

I think children are growing up a lot quicker. Even in the last few years, i've heard little kids says things i'd NEVER say (or even thought of saying) when i was that age! And i'm only 15 now

It isn't like i was brought up in a sheltered household - i had an older brother and sister, and i was the only one of my friends who mixed with adults. So yeah, i don't think i did have much of a childhood, but for most of it, i thought it was kinda cool. With my brother and sister always complaining that i got to do things that they were never allowed to

I think it is sad that from an ever younger age, children grow up - and way too quickly as well. Innocence is something that once it's gone, you don't get it back, and that's a shame that children end up being forced to grow up cause of the society that we live in

Posted: 19:16 Jul 22 2002

MaryLou "What else would I wanna pump you for? I really just said that didn't I"

I think it is so sad that children are growing up so much quicked now, they seem to have grown up things like clothes and language etc forced upn them at a very early age.

For example I saw this girl the other day who must have been about 8 or 9 and she was wearing a tiny mini skirt, 4 inch wedges and a very low cut top!

At that age, I was running around my local field playing hide and seek etc in jeans and a t-shirt without any concern over what I looked like.
I just don't get it!

Posted: 21:25 Jul 22 2002

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