The term “acceleration” itself is a little over seventy years old - it was proposed in 1935 by the German doctor E. M. Koch. This word (translated from Latin simply means “acceleration”) was the name given to the manifestation of an increase in height, weight and some other indicators of children and adolescents in comparison with their peers in other generations. The phenomenon of acceleration is observed in the USA, Europe, Asia, Russia; in cities it is usually somewhat stronger than in rural areas. Its wide distribution allows scientists to consider the phenomenon of acceleration as a trend characteristic of the development of modern man.
The main signs of acceleration are, for example:
- increase in the length and weight of newborn children (at the time of the study (1979), on average 1-2 kg and 4-5 cm more than in the 30s of the same century),
- earlier and replacing them with permanent ones (for 1-2 years),
- earlier ossification of the skeleton (2-3 years earlier than in the 20-30s of the 20th century),
- increase in overall height by 8-10 cm compared to the previous generation,
- accelerated growth of school-age children, earlier puberty (at 11-12 years old in boys).
These signs are cited in their works by Yu. E. Veltishchev and G.S. Gracheva. I.M. Vorontsov and A.V. Mazurin also argue that acceleration is accompanied by an increase in life expectancy in general and in the reproductive period of adults of both sexes.
Various theories of the emergence of acceleration, including physical and chemical ones (theories of solar radiation, cosmic radiation, wave, magnetic field, increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide and others), and taking into account factors and complexes of factors of living conditions (increasing information flows, urban influence, socio-biological factors), and even genetic ones (cyclical biological changes, mixing of populations), still cannot be fully confirmed, which allows us to believe that there is a complex set of these, and possibly other factors, at play here.
According to scientists, the speed of development can be influenced, for example, by socio-economic conditions in the family and nutrition, but they are not affected at all by race or climate.
In addition, B. G. Ananyev pointed out that the development of mental and physical properties in children often occurs unevenly. This is the so-called disharmonic acceleration. It happens that psychological age lags behind biological age (infancy). More often, infantilism occurs in boys.
Acceleration - why should parents know about it?
The scientific facts given above are, of course, interesting, but somewhat abstract and cannot explain why we, parents, people who are often far from science, need knowledge about acceleration. In fact, its significance is much broader than just scientific. For example, in pediatrics, the fact of acceleration allows us to revise the norms of child development, which are widely used by our doctors in determining the norms and deviations from them in the development of children, especially in the first year of life. This is also useful to know for mothers who like to compare their child with various standards and tables - after all, these same tables from books from the beginning of the last century may well make her worry about the baby’s health. And during the period of puberty of a boy, special attention is required by the fact that acceleration of the growth process can provoke retardation or even diseases of the cardiovascular and other systems and organs. Of course, doctors know about this, but it is up to the parents to notice, suspect the disease and consult a doctor in time.
Early puberty
Psychologists and educators are faced with another aspect of acceleration - early puberty and related psychological problems. This includes depression, and various kinds of conflicts, protests, and the need to conduct a normal educational process against the backdrop of all this. These same problems most often concern parents. And their participation, attention, and help are especially necessary for a child during puberty.
Early puberty in boys, caused by acceleration, especially if physical development is ahead of psychological development, is dangerous due to early sexual intercourse and closely related diseases or pregnancies of equally early formed girlfriends. And here the joint work of parents, psychologists and teachers is necessary. First of all, informational. Now this work is often replaced by communicating information to boys and girls about contraceptive methods and sexually transmitted diseases. Often this information is given in the form of exciting films or games, where the very fact of the early onset of sexual activity is perceived favorably and with humor, and sexual life is certainly not associated either with the family or with the main goal of connecting the masculine and feminine principles - the birth of a child. Our school generally pays very little attention to the issue of creating a family, giving birth and raising children. And even as adults, our boys often have a very vague idea of where children come from. But this is much more important than sex, even safe sex. In the meantime, issues of sex, precisely in its relationship with creating a family, procreation, and raising healthy children, fall mainly on the shoulders of parents. And if parents - you and I - do not pay enough attention to this, we may one day have to face the consequences of receiving such information from other sources. Parents, if necessary, together with a psychologist, can help the child transfer the awakening sexual energy to a safer plane - direct it to creativity, sports, some hobbies.
The rebellious spirit of teenage boys
Another danger is psychological. During puberty, especially in children with signs of disharmonious acceleration, the child is very vulnerable. With disharmonious acceleration with accelerated physical development, a boy may suffer from increased demands placed on him as an “adult,” when he, in fact, psychologically remains a child. Mood swings, conflict with the older generation, various forms of protest, sometimes even suicidal - all this can be dangerous, and almost always unpleasant, both for parents and for the child himself. And if for girls this period often passes more or less calmly, then the rebellious spirit of teenage boys can cause many troubles - first of all, for the boy himself.
Often parents know about the transition period, prepare for it, wait for it, but wait until they are 15 or 16 years old. And he comes at 12, and they are not at all ready for this. It is important for parents to know about this in order to adequately respond to changes in the behavior of their teenage child and try to maintain a trusting relationship with him, despite defiant behavior, strange (from the parents’ point of view) appearance or social circle. Usually, all teenage rebellious movements, be they emo, goth, informal or others, are not nearly as scary as they are described in the press, and the fascination with them goes away along with the stage of hormonal storms. But a trusting relationship will help to recognize and retain if the child falls under a more serious and dangerous influence - sects or drugs, and here timely assistance can be simply invaluable. Of course, everything described is real without the participation of acceleration; it’s just that with acceleration, problems may become more acute.
Acceleration is a product of society? Or maybe a myth?
Currently, researchers of the so-called backward tribes are becoming increasingly popular - from the point of view of their way of life, principles of education and views on the development of children. For example, the best-selling book by psychotherapist Jean Ledloff about the principle of continuity in education, written on the example of the life of South American Indians. In such tribes, a boy is often considered an equal member of the tribe, a man, already at the age of 7-9 years. It is unlikely that they have heard about acceleration and the problems associated with it. This suggests that acceleration and the problems associated with it are a product of our lifestyle or educational views.
However, you don’t have to look that far for examples - back in 1774 in Russia, the church set the minimum age for marriage - 13 years for women and 15 years for men. Later, by imperial decree in 1830, the minimum age was raised to 16 years for the bride and 18 years for the groom, however, with the blessing of the church, earlier marriages were possible. And in Iran, for example, as a result of legislative reform in 2002, boys will be able to get married only at 15 years old, instead of 14, as before. So, are they all accelerators? Doubtful.
However, the myth of acceleration or a scientifically proven fact is not so important. The main thing is that in difficult periods of life, which include the transition period, regardless of the age at which it begins, our boys can count on our love, help, support and understanding. Then there will be fewer problems and difficulties, and it will be easier to solve them.
Comment on the article “What is acceleration and how does it threaten our boys?”
But when he says “shashlik-mashlyk”, he means an evening with barbecue and drunkenness, perhaps even with weed and girls, and maybe even a blackie. What is acceleration and how does it threaten our boys?
It is not surprising that such a system stimulates the infantilization of citizens. In principle, people who were alarmed about Veronica Skvortsova’s speech are right in their own way. What is acceleration and how does it threaten our boys?
But I don’t see any particular acceleration. My daughter (12 years old) in her class has both girls 170+ and girls shorter than her daughter, and she is now about 155 (at her age I was much taller and my foot size was much larger - here again, no acceleration).
In our time of acceleration, 158 cm for a boy is negligibly small; he will carry this problem with himself all his life. The side effects of therapy are greatly exaggerated compared to the real side effects of serious hormonal therapy with other...
We had a boy in the first grade, he was already in school for the third time. But there were still problems in behavior. And in the second grade she appeared. We had an incident at school last year: the father of one boy was called to school, in front of him they began to ask his son questions about the program, the son...
What is acceleration and how does it threaten our boys? Early puberty. Psychologists and teachers are faced with another aspect of acceleration - early puberty and related psychological problems.
For both boys and girls? Nonsense, although height really is inherited. There are really precise ways - based on the growth sector. It turned out that she would grow to 180-183 cm, and she was immediately kicked out. I went swimming.
About acceleration. Don’t you think that acceleration has ended for those who are now >30? The people now born are clearly smaller. I once read that the farther parents were born from each other, the taller their children. The era of great migrations ended at the beginning...
The term “acceleration” denotes the acceleration of growth and development of children and adolescents, but in comparison with How often you can hear the word “acceleration” in relation to our boys. What is acceleration and how does it threaten our boys?
With disharmonious acceleration with accelerated physical development, a boy may suffer from increased demands placed on him as an “adult,” when he, in fact, psychologically remains a child. Hormonal balance and harmonious development.
I was friends with boys, i.e. played football, was generally a tomboy, but so much so that she could fight and kick??? wow girls... I was a terrible excellent student, all the boys copied from me, so they never bullied me. Well, not only for this reason.
early development, acceleration?. ...I find it difficult to choose a section. A child from birth to one year. We will only be 5 months old on February 19th). early development, acceleration?
Acceleration. Age standards. A child from birth to one year. We are also three, we also roll over onto our stomachs. I haven’t heard that this is to the detriment of mental health. Perhaps, if you specifically develop only the body and do not pay attention to other aspects, it will be...
Acceleration is acceleration, but what can you do? Nothing. My daughter is the youngest in our kindergarten group and the shortest in height. Although we have a familiar boy of 5 years old, who is maybe a couple of centimeters taller than Dasha (but both his father and mother are short).
Acceleration in French. A six-month-old baby says to his mother: “Mom, prepare the other breast for the evening, I won’t have dinner alone.” A very bad boy is walking through the forest. The good fairy noticed him. She knew that he was a bad boy, but she decided to rehabilitate him...
Acceleration???. Age standards. A child from birth to one year. Care and education of a child up to one year: nutrition, illness, development. and I was in the hospital with one mother and there was a boy there, 7 months old, 17 kg, height 75 cm. And on the next bed, Vanya, one and a half year old, weight 9,200 height...
Acceleration?. Development, training. A child from birth to one year. Our Vika is now 8, she (since 7 months) has been moving steps in any direction, holding on to support, but I don’t think that this can no longer be considered independent walking, just like a few steps between...
What is acceleration and how does it threaten our boys? earlier ossification of the skeleton (2-3 years earlier than in the 20-30s of the 20th century), an increase in overall height by 8-10 cm compared to the previous generation. Hip dysplasia: the experience of experienced people.
Accelerators – these are kids, teenagers, boys and girls who, according to their physical characteristics, look much older than their age.
Their height, body proportions, head and hip circumference are much greater than those of other peers or representatives of other generations (meaning relatives whose parents’ development is compared with the development of their children in history).
However, it is impossible to talk about acceleration only as a factor of external difference; these are also internal changes associated with accelerated gender maturation and the early start of many psychological processes.
Therefore, the causes of this phenomenon, features "little-adults", the degree of advance and other aspects: the upbringing, training and treatment of such children are studied by several scientific departments at once: physiologists (theoretical block); psychologists, pediatric clinical specialists, orthopedic surgeons, gynecologists/urologists (practical contact group).
Reasons for the formation of lead
According to many experts there is no single correct hypothesis regarding the increase in growth rates of modern children and adolescents. Some factors of the external and internal environment can also provoke intrauterine growth:
Nutrition. On the shelves there is a huge amount of fortified and fortified products, which, in addition to beneficial properties, also have negative components - the ability to change metabolic processes in the direction of increasing vital characteristics, including height and weight.
For some, this artificial stimulation of growth is not very noticeable, and some suffer from significant problems in mental development, since the entire potential of the body is lost in pursuit of the pace of physical development in turbo mode;
Duration of the photoperiod. Now young couples strive to relax on the seashore at least twice a year: the first in winter, the second in early autumn or early spring. This decision is due to the struggle for a healthy lifestyle, the desire to escape from the bustle of the city with eternal colds and seasonal diseases.
Of course, the benefits of fresh air and plenty of sunlight have been proven for a long time, but the consequences of an increased period of UV radiation for residents of the middle zone are not covered at all. One of the negative factors of non-compliance with the body’s usual heat-cold regime is a change in metabolism and the birth of accelerated children.
Increased daylight hours. Those who live in the central part of the city or are permanent residents of the metropolis note: psycho-emotional stress, sleep disorders, and other syndromes associated with changes in natural daylight hours.
The installation of LED lighting and fluorescent lamps led to constant exhaustion, as the body was deceived by the artificial “daytime” environment. As a result, you have to work and stay awake longer, and grow faster.
Raw materials for food processing. GMOs are not the only problem in modern society that leads to the emergence of large people. Substrates used to process crops and finished raw materials for long-term storage also contain specialized substances that change the processes of growth and maturation of the human body.
They are not washed off with ordinary water and soap, so there is no way to avoid their use.
Sociocultural factors. It's no secret that social priorities have changed significantly. Everyone needs active, young, efficient citizens - who, with their appearance and ability to learn quickly, will displace the “remnants of past years” and create a new society of successful people.
The acceleration process is largely due to this approach, because in order for the body to survive (become competitive) it has to adapt to the changing requirements of the external environment.
Characteristic features of the acceleration process
The acceleration process occurs in several stages:
- At the level of anthropometry - height, weight, limb length, and so on;
- At the level of psychosocial changes - early puberty, high speed of thinking, etc.
In the first case it is observed a sharp jump of 3 – 5 cm according to many standardized tables developed by physiologists of the Ministry of Health 10 - 15 years ago. This speaks not only of the rapid growth of 2 generations of people, but also of the development of a persistent tendency towards a similar phenomenon.
The second aspect has a negative side, since cases of early pregnancy have become more frequent - at the age of 17-18, girls give birth to children, instead of engaging in self-development, study and formation in society.
In addition, psychologically, neither boys nor girls are ready to bear full responsibility for their actions and starting. They need adult support, communication, direction and guidance.
Their nervous system is ripe to act actively and boldly, but is not strong enough to evaluate the consequences of their actions (we are talking about all aspects of life). Thus, it turns out that the child become a hostage to your early growing up- remaining a small defenseless person who cannot do without attentive and sensitive control from society.
Growing. Remember when your baby cut his first tooth, when he sat up and walked, when the first “hole” appeared in the preschooler’s smile. Time passes, and now the eighth-grader is ahead of his dad by half a head... It's time to think about such a phenomenon as acceleration. Is it good or bad when your baby is precocious?
Acceleration- acceleration of growth and puberty of children and adolescents compared to previous generations. Its pace has increased significantly in economically developed countries in the last two centuries. During this time, according to statistics, a person grew by an average of 10-15 cm and gained 10-12 kg in weight.
Scientists do not yet know the only reason for acceleration, but there are quite a few versions. There is an opinion that acceleration goes only where people eat quality food. Thus, a resident of Russia in the 30s of the last century ate 30 kg of meat per year, and in the early 1980s this figure doubled. People began to receive more vitamins, including artificial ones.
In addition, some scientists believe that the accelerated development of people was caused by scientific and technological progress - electric light, electronic technology and other achievements of civilization. Appearance acceleration Some scientists explain it by natural phenomena - the cyclicity of solar activity.
It turns out, according to the opinion, if a child develops at an accelerated pace, this is by no means a reason to be proud of your child. Acceleration, like deceleration(developmental delay) is a deviation from the norm by an average of 3-5 years.
Moreover accelerated growth of the body is even more dangerous. The fact is that intensive growth increases create increased stress on the body (mainly on the heart, blood vessels, and digestive organs). And as a result, many diseases that are normally characteristic of mature people become younger: hypertension, diabetes, atherosclerosis. In modern medicine, there are even known cases of death of children and adolescents from acute heart failure.
Doctors state that more and more often children are born weighing more than four kg, which often leads to complicated births, and therefore the baby has a higher risk of injury. In the future, such a child may be subject to rickets and anemia, since an organism that is growing beyond the norm has a much higher need for nutrients, but a young mother does not always have the opportunity to satisfy it.
However, on its own acceleration is not a disease, but a risk factor. It cannot be treated (after all, the growth and development of the body cannot be stopped), but it must be taken into account. Children with accelerated development need to be examined more carefully, emerging health problems should be identified in a timely manner and preventive measures should be taken.
Positive consequences acceleration far less. It is believed that thanks to it, some non-infectious diseases of the genitourinary system, liver and biliary tract occur less frequently.
The first rule for parents whose child is rapidly ahead of his peers is to monitor his nutrition. His plate should have enough meat, fish, vegetables, and other healthy foods. Deficiency of vitamins and microelements is more dangerous for children with accelerated development than for others.
There is an opinion that a young accelerator is more resilient. In fact, it's the other way around. All organs and systems of the body are already under increased stress, and excessive physical activity can provoke disease. This does not mean that physical education is completely contraindicated for your child - skiing, skating, and swimming are very useful.
And one more piece of advice for parents is to be interested in the results of routine medical examinations. Ideally, you should go to the doctor with your child, even if he has already graduated from primary school.
Lokatskaya Liliana
Scientists are of the opinion that time is accelerating. Modern children in all aspects, according to the laws of nature and progress, are trying to keep up with him. So it turns out that the body itself “jumps” over the existing framework, trying to get ahead of the slipping time, to be one step ahead.
Taller and bigger than your peers
Accelerated children look different from their peers. They stand out in the general photograph of the class: large-built, tall, with a decent weight, clearly not corresponding to the category of their age. In addition to external signs, changes also occur internally. Accelerator organs can be more active or, on the contrary, withdrawn into themselves, since the psyche does not keep up with the physiological changes of its own body.
Becoming parents very early
Cases when children themselves become parents at such a young age are already quite common. Puberty occurs very quickly for many adolescents, which contributes to early sexual desire and opportunities to become sexually active. Accelerated children especially stand out in this area. Girls develop breasts quickly, which significantly sets her apart from her classmates. In addition, scientists note that the onset of menstruation becomes several months younger every year. Accelerated boys look more masculine due to their height and body size.
What is the danger of accelerated growth of a child’s body?
Height and weight that do not fit into the established norms, according to the age categories of children, aggravate the situation in the child’s body. He may show signs of diseases uncharacteristic for his age. For example, prerequisites for diabetes, heart failure and even atherosclerosis. When parents notice the first signs of rapid maturation of the child’s body, they should not hesitate to visit a specialist to undergo an examination.
Important: what promotes acceleration
1 Place of birth and residence of children. It is necessary to choose the most protected habitat, far from industrial enterprises, exhaust gases and other emissions. In addition, accelerated children are more often found in large and noisy cities.
2 Nutrition plays an important role both in the formation of the fetus (mother’s nutrition) and the already born and growing child. All industrial waste in children's diets contributes to the occurrence of a number of diseases. And naturally, it affects the physiological processes in a young body. A child who eats processed foods, and even in large quantities, has a high risk of not being like his peers.
