"Growing Up Too Fast"

I came across an article in an online database that I found very intriguing.  It is titled, “Growing Up Too Fast” and was published in American Libraries in 2008.  The author, Jennifer Burek Pierce discusses the research done by a librarian by the name of Sandra Steingraber.  Her research focuses on the changes that are taking place in youth and how that can affect their development.  One of her main points in the article is that the age of puberty is falling in the United States.  More and more girls, especially, are going through puberty at an earlier age; and the concern is that this trend of early puberty is something that needs to be addressed as a public concern.  As the author points out that puberty is something that takes place over a period of years and is not restricted to the reproductive system, but that the brain is changing and forming as well.  She states that, “the brain is also transformed during puberty…essentially we grow a new brain” (Pierce, 2008, p. 62).  These massive changes that are taking place, if happening at an earlier age in girls, have consequences.  It can create issues with learning and socialization.  She gives several factors that can contribute to early puberty including diet, living conditions and environmental toxins.  She points out that these girls are at a higher risk for breast cancer as well, which is something that I don’t believe most people think about.  She also points out that family dynamics can play a large role in early development, specifically singling out an affectionate, involved father as being a help in later puberty in girls.  The last thing that she discusses is a recent study about melatonin and the role it plays in regulating puberty.  The levels of melatonin “fall with prolonged screen time, yet rose again when time spent playing non-computer games with family members increased” (p. 62).   One thing mentioned is that it didn’t matter what the content was…just the time spent.  She urges discussion of this issue as a way to possibly help save lives because with early development in girls also comes negative self perception which has led to higher suicide rates. 

One might ask why I would choose to address a topic like this in a materials for tweens class, but as I was reading this article is was interesting to me the connection made between early and problematic puberty and ‘screen time’.  This is something that more and more researchers are speaking out about.  Notice that the author was sure to point out that the type and content of the screen time didn’t matter, but the amount.  This is something that I have felt strongly about for many years.  As librarians, especially public librarians, we need to be prepared to help and assist our patrons in any way; and when dealing primarily with the youth one needs to understand what is happening in their lives.  In understanding what is happening we can be better prepared to help and lead tweens.  Sometimes outside sources, such as librarians, have some influence on these kids simply because they are “outside”.  And by understanding what is happening we can be better prepared to help them make the best choices in reading material, and even encourage reading where there wasn’t much before. 

Pierce, J. B. (2008).  Growing up too fast.  American Libraries, 39(11), 62.  Retrieved September 5^th, 2010 from the SJSU King Library, Library Science and Information Full Text database.