Girls In The United States Began To Pass More Schoolwork. Part 3 of 3

In general, those girls reported more acts of delinquency at ages 11, 13 and 16. The regular difference, however, was not dramatic. At age 13, for example, early bloomers admitted to one delinquent act in the past couple years, versus an average of 0,5 for other girls. Parents don’t have to be agonized that their daughter is destined to run wild just because she developed earlier. Still, she and Biro both said it’s important for parents to monitor their kids as they grow older – private where they are and who they are with – and they may need to start earlier with daughters who mature sooner.

In this study, the importance of girls’ friends was apparent. Regardless of when they started puberty, girls with a best friend who behaved faultily – talking back to adults, lying and cheating, for example – tended to have more problem behavior themselves. And girls who matured early seemed to be particularly influenced by that friend, the researchers found. But while keeping tabs on your child’s friends is important, kids also want to feel they can talk to their parents product. They are more likely to tell you about their lives “if there is the foundation of a close, sustaining relationship and a history of setting rules and boundaries”.

Parts: 1 2 3