The struggle is to find the balance. Some people think it's good for their children to be exposed to the stuff Melinda has been speaking of - in order to 'educate' and 'make resistant' their children, while others believe the opposite.

My choice is to shield my children from as much harm as possible - there is enough in the world and within each individual to challenge a person's worth without having extra exposure to question that even more. I am saddened when I know people choose to allow children to view movies rated beyond their years, or allow them to read magazines that encourage girls to be unhappy with their beauty because they don't fit the mould or boys to think they are not masculine because they cry.

It is risky, it makes you vulnerable to have a heart and to be honest & open with yourself & others, and to love. But that's what this whole thing is about - we all want to be 'top of the heap', the person in the right not the wrong; the one who looks the best, or knows the most or is the best athlete. The fact is most of us will never get there! Instead, the majority of us continue arguing about all the above, and pulling others down (in whatever ways we can - verbally physically, sexually etc) instead of accepting each other, helping each other, and living life.

Part Time Parent
An interesting theory regards girls maturing earlier is that it could be because of the large amounts of perfumes that women are now wearing, which normaly contain a range of female hormones such as estrogens.

These perfumes are being worn in great amounts compared to earlier times (when about the only toiletry product was Sunlight soap), and the amounts of these perfumes now in the environment is indirectly making girls mature earlier, and could be leading to impotency in males.

There have also been studies showing that teenage girls are up to 8 times more likely to become pregnant without their natural father being in the house.

I also don’t think natural fathers want their daughter to dress up like street walkers, read senseless girl magazines, or spend all their pocket money on cosmetics and perfumes.

HRS I think that girls are maturing earlier because of their exposure to sexual images, education and scenes. The human body adapts. Children are not supposed to be saturated with sex during the early years. Their bodies are developing too fast as it is becoming confused by what they experience and see. Just like early Spring confuses flowers, early exposure to sex confuses humans.

We need to limit the sexual focus in society and turn our children's focus and attention on other things

Education - Keeping them Honest
http://jolandachallita.typepad.com/education/
Our children deserve better.

I don't see the problem with children maturing earlier. As long as they are educated in line with what they are experiencing where is the problem? I don't think adults being uncomfortable with their children's sexuality like it seems a lot of posters on this forum are is a good thing for children either.

If anything, when we shield kids from the realities of life that they can sense and see right in fornt of them, they see adults as liers and rightly so. I know I did. I don't see why parents with this attitude think its the responsiblity of the whole world to fit in with this fantasy land they are creating for their children.

Not everyone gets a prize, the world is competetive, people discriminate based on physical appearance, people die, people are violent, people have sex.

Parents know thier children and how developed they are and have the opportunity to educate them and give them the resources to deal with the real world, so why do they just live in a fantasy land instead. It's going to be a lot more shocking when your child finds out the truth, and has the double whammy of knowing you haven't been honest with them all this time.

I see a problem with children maturing earlier...I see the problem because the problems are happening today. Sexual abuse of children, physical abuse of children, neglect of children, bullying of children - just to name a few. When children are sexualized earlier it creates an excuse and a shield for pedophiles because they justify it to each other as they say that the children are ready and they want it. When girls are dressing and acting so cheaply and provocative in the street the general public all nod their head and agree. Early sexual exposure also grooms our children to experiment and accept certain negative behaviour as children learn by example.

My children know all about sex and they understand it - as the do live in the real world but they are modern and mature and they want something better for the future. Without missing out on the fun.

I would like to see more moderation. We are functioning too much at the extremes.

Children are going to push the boundaries, they always will try to push the boundaries. If we have no boundaries for our children to push they will get more brazen and out of control searching to achieve that goal.

Surely we should be teaching our children bigger and better things.

Jolanda,

'Sexual abuse of children, physical abuse of children, neglect of children, bullying of children - just to name a few.'

All have been around for a very long time. Do you hope to eradicate these by more modest clothing or banning video games?

'When children are sexualized earlier it creates an excuse and a shield for pedophiles because they justify it to each other as they say that the children are ready and they want it'

Pedophiles have always said that, and will use anything to justify what they do. Most pedophiles abuse family members, and I'm not convinced there has been an increase in pedophilia, though maybe the reporting of it.

'Early sexual exposure also grooms our children to experiment and accept certain negative behaviour as children learn by example.'

What negative behaviour? Children learn most by the example set by the parents. Children have always experimented.

'Children are going to push the boundaries'

Of course. I'm not against setting boundaries. I leave this for the parents to choose their own boundaries, not ask the government to set them by imposing their particular morality on the populace.