Overview and Introduction
Coffee is considered something of a staple for adults, but does that mean 11 year old children should have access to it and drink it as well? The question can create rifts in views and opinions, as it is a subject that has long been debated. It is important to take into account what different experts and medical professionals say, along with societal opinions and expectations, as well as the guidance of official sources.
Health Impact
As a child’s body and brain is still developing, it is best that they avoid ingesting anything that could interfere with the development process. This includes the various compounds found in coffee, the most notable being caffeine. Caffeine can affect physical and mental development, along with having potential long-term side effects. There are also short-term risks in relation to sleep deprivation, anxiety and insomnia. A study by German researchers found that children as young as four can already be showing signs of caffeine dependency, and this could increase greatly as the child enters their teenage years.
Experts’ Opinions
As there are so many risks associated with caffeine consumption in children, experts strongly recommend otherwise. Health professionals and nutritionists always advise parents to stay away from giving their children coffee until the age of 15, at the very minimum, and often even beyond that.
Allowing children to drink coffee provides an encouragement and predisposition towards drink and substance abuse. Caffeine addiction is a very real risk and letting a child develop a caffeine tolerance at an early age can only increase the chance of them depending on such substances as they age.
Whether a child should have access to coffee should also be determined by their maturity and the understanding of why coffee is bad for them. Providing coffee to a 11 year old can be dangerous if there is not enough guidance and instructions as to why and when it should be consumed.
Societal and Family Expectations
It is also important to take into account societal and family expectations. Contrary to their reputation, children are greatly influenced by their parents, the media and those in their direct circle.
Today it is common to see children in the presence of adults who are consuming alcohol or other drugs, and it is not uncommon to see children emulate these activities with the excuse of “mimicking the adults”. Educational efforts should be made to ensure that children understand why it is not easy or appropriate to follow these examples and why they should avoid drinking coffee before they are of age.
Official Instructive
More often than not, official sources will support the line of not providing any children under the age of 15 any coffee. In cases where the child is already consuming substances such as caffeine, there are sometimes age restrictions imposed to ensure the safety of the child, such as restrictions over purchasing such products from supermarkets or other stores.
It is also important to take into account official instructive when it comes to doses for children. Even if the child is already of a certain age, the doses should remain mild and within certain limits. If a child is consuming too much caffeine in any form, serious medical conditions can manifest and progress, and the child will become accustomed to ingesting dangerous amounts of this substance.
Educational Strategies
It is important to ensure that the child knows why they are not allowed to drink coffee, as it can help increase the understanding, respect and absorption of educational concepts. Educational strategies should include explanations into why coffee is bad for children, as well as how it affects the natural development process.
Explanations into why caffeine should be avoided should be included. This is especially true if the child lives in a household where coffee consumption is the norm. The child can only benefit from understanding why the adults are allowed coffee, yet they are not.
It is also important to educate the child on the short-term and long-term effects of caffeine consumption. This includes side effects such as restlessness, anxiety, a lack of concentration and digestive issues.
Responsibilities of Parents and Schools
As can be seen, the responsibilities parents and schools have to ensure that children understand why it is not a good idea to drink coffee are paramount. In cases where the child is at an age where they are misguided or simply do not understand why substances such as caffeine should be avoided, the role of parents and educators is crucial.
At school, programmes should be implemented and extracurricular activities should exist to increase the child’s knowledge on the subject. At home, the subject should also be addressed, and educational techniques and explanations should be used to ensure the child understands why they should not drink coffee.
Parents can also increase the child’s access to healthy beverages such as herbal teas and restrictive sugary drinks. This will ensure that the child can still enjoy some type of refreshment, yet it will be safe for the child and not pose any danger.
Social Consequences
The social consequences of allowing a 11 year old to drink coffee are varied. Allowing a child to drink coffee can be seen as a sign of immaturity, as it shows that parents do not take their responsibilities as seriously as they should and that the necessary educational activities are not being addressed constantly.
It could also lead to certain types of undesirable behaviours that are influenced by the effects of caffeine, and these can lead to children making bad decisions, sometimes leading to even more severe consequences.
Impact on Development
Another recurring problem that can arise when children drink coffee at a young age is their physical and mental development. Caffeine can interfere with the chemical mechanisms that occur within the brain, leading to the alteration of biochemical processes.
In addition, the body of a child is still developing, and caffeine can interfere with the metabolism, leading to undesired side effects that can permanently alter the physical development process. Effects can range from digestive problems to long-term issues.
Potential Solutions and Conclusions
At the end of the day, the decision regarding allowing a 11 year old to drink coffee is an individual one, and it is up to the parents to take into account all the arguments and factors mentioned earlier and make the best choice.
There are of course potential solutions that can help the parents and children avoid coffee altogether, yet the responsibility still rests on the parents to ensure the child is never exposed to such substances until they are considered of age.
Despite all the arguments, it is still safe to say that it is always better to be safe rather than sorry, and coffee consumption should be completely prohibited for 11 year olds and below.
