Thaindian News

London, Oct 20 (IANS) It seems children these days are growing up at a much faster rate than generally anticipated, as a study in Britain has found teenage tantrums and hormonal angst kicking in long before children reach that stage.

A survey of 2,000 British parents has found traits usually associated with 13, 14 and 15-year-olds are now being displayed by 11-year-olds, the Daily Express reported.

The present-day offspring are displaying teenage tendencies towards arguing about levels of independence, money and relationships with the opposite sex before they even turn teenagers.

The poll, by Tesco Mobile, asked parents when they noticed the change and found that girls started becoming more adolescent around six months before boys.

Around the age of 11 is the time when their little boy or girl started locking themselves away in their rooms, refused to do chores, and tried to become more independent but expected handouts of cash more regularly, the survey found.

It also found that the things that made teenage life so dramatic did not seem to have changed.

Drinking alcohol and late nights, car and boyfriend problems, bunking off school, falling out with friends and doing homework at the last minute remain the biggest causes of concern to parents.