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Today's teenagers growing up more slowly

Teenagers - Level 0

Today's teenagers grow up more slowly. Researchers looked at 8 million teens over the past 40 years. Today's teens are less responsible than teenagers from the 70s, 80s and 90s. Today's 18-year-olds are like 15-year-olds used to be. Teenagers today take fewer risks than they did before.

Today's teenagers take longer to do things their parents did, like dating, working, driving, and renting their own room. A professor said they have a, "slow life strategy". One reason for this is many teenagers live in the Internet and not the "real world". Another reason is parents do too many things for their children.

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11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Teenagers - Level 1

Today's teenagers are growing up more slowly. Researchers looked at the behaviour of 8 million teens in seven countries over the past 40 years. Today's teens are not as responsible as teenagers from the 70s, 80s and 90s. A professor said their development has slowed down. She said today's 18-year-olds are like 15-year-olds used to be. She said teenagers are taking fewer risks than they did before.

Today's teenagers take longer to do things their parents did. They are older when they date, work and drive. The professor said they have a, "slow life strategy". More teenagers live with their parents instead of renting their own room. One reason for this is teenagers spend a long time online. They use social media, look at videos or play games instead of living in the "real world". Another reason is parents do too much for their children.

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11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Teenagers - Level 2

Slowest

A study says today's teenagers are growing up more slowly than before. Researchers looked at data on the behaviour of 8 million teens in seven different countries over the past 40 years. They said that compared to teenagers from the 70s, 80s and 90s, today's teens, "are taking longer to engage in both the pleasures and the responsibilities of adulthood". A professor said: "The whole developmental pathway has slowed down." She said today's 18-year-olds are more like how 15-year-olds used to be. She said teenagers are taking a lot fewer risks than they did before.

Today's teenagers are taking longer to do things their parents did. They are older when they date, less likely to work part-time, and less likely to drive. The professor said they have a, "slow life strategy". More teenagers are living with their parents instead of renting their own room. One of the reasons for this behaviour is how much time teenagers spend online. The Internet is keeping teens on social media, looking at videos or playing games instead of living in the "real world". Another reason is parents do too much for their children and protect them too much.

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11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Teenagers - Level 3

A new study says today's teenagers are growing up more slowly than previous generations. Research from San Diego State University looked at data on teenage behaviour from the past 40 years, between 1976 and 2016. It looked at surveys on 8 million teens from seven different countries. Researchers said that compared to teenagers from the 70s, 80s and 90s, today's teens, "are taking longer to engage in both the pleasures and the responsibilities of adulthood". Professor Jean Twenge said: "The whole developmental pathway has slowed down." She said today's 18-year-olds are living more like 15-year-olds used to live. She said teenagers are taking far fewer risks than they did before.

The researchers said today's teenagers are taking longer to do things their parents and grandparents did. They are older when they go on their first date, less likely to have a part-time job, and are less likely to drive. Professor Twenge said this is a, "slow life strategy". Researchers also found that more teenagers are spending longer living with their parents instead of renting their own room or apartment. One of the reasons for these behaviours is how much time teenagers spend online. The Internet is keeping teens on social media, looking at videos or playing games instead of living in the "real world". Another reason was parents who try and do too much for their children and protect them too much.

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25 online activities    |    26-page printable    |    2-page mini-lesson