Tesco has been criticised by teachers and children’s charities for selling a padded plunge bra aimed at girls as young as seven.

 

A spokeswoman for the National Union of Teachers said: “Making products for young girls which encourage them to wear inappropriate or sexually provocative clothes is irresponsible and merely adds to the pressure they are under.”

 

However, the supermarket defended the bra, arguing that it was developed after speaking to parents and was designed to cover up, not to flatter.

 

Have you noticed girls wearing more grown up clothing at younger and younger ages? Is it different for boys? Should retailers ensure that the clothing they sell is appropriate?

 

Do you agree with the NUT that concern over what they wear contributes to the pressure children feel to appear grown up? How can parents protect their offspring’s childhood?

 

Or do you think children are just reaching puberty at a younger age?

 

Source: Sunday Telegraph

Yes, i think children do grow up to quickly this day and age. I think we should keep children as long as possible, let them enjoy their childhood. They have way too much responsibilities today. I just think they miss out on so much childhood. Children so young come home from school only to have to let themselves in, until one parent arrives home from work.

 

I read somewhere that by the age of 11 childhood is over for children. Girls aged 9 and 10 are wearing clothes that should be worn for 18/19 years old. it is so wrong.

 

Girls at the age of 11 and 12 years ago used to play with barbie dolls, but these days all they want to do is wear make-up and talk about boys.

 

Children of 10 and 11 used to believe in Santa Claus and The Tooth Fairy , nowadays at the age of 5 and 6, they don't believe, which is sad. :(

 

 

So my answer is YES, children do grow up too quickly.

For heavens sake! Plunge bras for girls as young as seven?? Agreed that girls are physically developing younger these days, but I work with primary age children and I don't see that many who would need a bra, let alone a padded bra for God's sake :rolleyes: Childhood is such a precious time and we certainly shouldn't be encouraging our youngsters to grow up quicker than they need too. I find it very sad indeed.

If anything a lot of the teens around my area are mollycoddled by their over-protective parents! :heehee: Perhaps that's not representative of the nation though.

I don't think this is as bad as people make it out to be, but I do think that there are children that don't have a chance to just be a kid with no worries. Mostly it's the parents who are to blame for this because of either abuse or neglect, or simply because of a single mother having to work all day to support her children. Both are avoidable, but I respect single parents who do what they have to do to support their family...not every situation can be perfect, sadly. :(

well its the celeb culture and the fashion business that are to blame. pop music is aimed at kids, songs about love and sex are performed by the talentless bints dressed in their underwear are readily accessed by kids on tv. fashion mags used to be innocent (jackie anyone?...lol) but now they are made for kids but with 'adult' material, like fashion tips, make up and even how to handle boys!

 

kids shouldnt wear clothes that sexualize them, full stop. but in this day and age i really cant see the trend being stopped, all too often kids are being bombarded with images of celebs and images of how to look.