But childhood today is different. Many children have a lot of stress in their lives and pressure to succeed. Our culture today emphasizes success, and this starts in childhood. "It's a difficult time for parents because there are so many pressures from society that are unhealthy," says Dr. David Elkind, author of The Hurried Child: Growing Up Too Fast. Many children learn to use computers and tablets before they can walk. Some learn to read and count before they go to nursery school. There is a much greater emphasis today on academic achievement than in the past. As a result, they have tutors and attend study classes after school to help them to compete with other children. Many parents worry that if they don't enroll their kids in a lot of after-school activities, such as music classes or soccer, their children will be left behind. Sometimes, though, parents involve their children in so many outside activities that they really have very little time left just to play, have fun, and be kids. It seems that society rushes them to grow up too quickly. We have to ask the question, "Are kids growing up too fast these days?" This rush through childhood can cause the same kinds of stress in children that adults have.