Children acting older at "young age"

By Andrew Hough

LONDON (Reuters) - Children's author Jacqueline Wilson said on Monday she thinks young people are growing up too quickly, an opinion backed up by a survey showing over half of parents think childhood is over by the age of 11.

Teenagers are acting older at an "alarmingly young age," says Wilson, 62.

Among her best-known titles are "The Story of Tracy Beaker" about a 10-year-old growing up in a children's home and "Girls in Love", a tale of hairstyles, boyfriends and make-up.

The ICM survey of almost 1,200 parents with children aged under 18, by publisher Random House, found that more than half believe children are "young adults" at 11.

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Almost three-quarters allow their children to drink alcohol before they are 18. Almost half allow their 16 year-olds to spend a night at their respective partner's house.

Fifty-three percent of teenagers under 16 are allowed to stay out later than 11 p.m. while more than two-thirds of pre-teen girls are allowed to get their ears pierced.

The survey was commissioned by the publisher to help launch Wilson's latest book: "My Sister Jodie".