"My son is 11 years old. In the span of six months, he shot up from 4 feet, 11 inches to 5 feet, 6 inches. But he is still very much a child - curious, playful, learning how to regulate his emotions, and growing into himself one awkward inch at a time. The world, however, no longer seems interested in seeing him that way."
"Gesturing to my son, who was standing near enough to hear the whole exchange, he said, "You've got older kids like this one playing on a sixth-grade team. He must have been reclassed." As a mother, my instinct to defend him kicked in immediately. But before I could step in, my son spoke up for himself: "Hey, I'm only 11. I'm actually the youngest sixth-grader on my team.""
"This phenomenon has a name: adultification bias. Research published by the American Psychological Association found that Black boys as young as 10 are perceived as significantly older and less innocent than their white peers of the same age. And as the National Black Child Development Institute warns, adultification bias "robs Black children of the presumption of childhood," exposing them to harsher treatment, diminished empathy and adult consequences long before they are developmentally appropriate."
An 11-year-old boy who rapidly grew in height was mistaken for an older child at a youth basketball tournament and accused of being reclassified. A coach publicly alleged age cheating, prompting the child to state his true age and grade. Research identifies adultification bias, whereby Black children are perceived as older and less innocent than white peers. Studies from the American Psychological Association find Black boys as young as ten face such perceptions. The National Black Child Development Institute warns that adultification robs Black children of the presumption of childhood, leading to harsher treatment, diminished empathy and premature adult consequences. The bias extends beyond sports into everyday interactions.
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