Tim Ellsworth

An AP story examines how children’s exposure to sexually-charged images and music are forcing them to grow up faster.

Natalie Wickstrom, a 10-year-old in suburban Atlanta, says girls her age sometimes wear clothes that are “a little inappropriate.” She describes how one friend tied her shirt to show her stomach and “liked to dance, like in rap videos.”

Girls in her class also talk about not only liking but “having relationships” with boys.

“There’s no rules, no limitations to what they can do,” says Natalie, who’s also in fifth grade.

Her mom, Billie Wickstrom, says the teen-like behavior of her daughter’s peers, influences her daughter - as does parents’ willingness to allow it.

“Some parents make it hard on those of us who are trying to hold their kids back a bit,” she says.

And therein lies the problem, one that presents tremendous challenges to parents — so many parents aren’t responsible enough to shield their children from material to which they should not be exposed. And so those parents who do adequately protect their kids from the media’s influence must protect their kids from other kids, as well.

May God give us wisdom as parents, for the task before us is becoming increasingly difficult.