Artificial Maturity: Helping Kids Meet the Challenge of Becoming Authentic Adults - Hardcover

Artificial Maturity: Helping Kids Meet the Challenge of Becoming Authentic Adults, by Tim Elmore

What caused you to write the book Artificial Maturity?
As I concluded my research for the book, Generation iY, I began seeing so many students who were beginning well—then not finishing—in school, work, sports, and other areas. Adults assumed they were mature and ready for a task or commitment, but unfortunately, they were not. I compare it to “fools gold.” It looks real, but it's just an illusion.

What exactly is “artificial maturity”?
Artificial Maturity is the result of two realities in our culture today:

• Kids are over-exposed to information...far earlier than they are ready.
• Kids are under-exposed to real-life experiences...far later than they’re ready.

What does authentic maturity look like?
Often, kids today develop with huge imbalances; they’re mature in one area and immature in others. Authentic maturity occurs when a person grows in each area of their life:

• Physically
• Cognitively
• Emotionally
• Socially
• Spiritually

Describe the world that kids are living in today. Do the challenges override the opportunities?
A shift has taken place between early Generation Y and later Generation Y kids. Although born perhaps less than a decade apart, there are measurable differences:

Early Generation Y (Born in 1980s)
• Highly compassionate
• Technology is a tool
• Activists (They are passionate)
• Civic-minded
• Ambitious about future
• Accelerated growth

Generation iY (Born since 1990)
• Low empathy
• Technology is an appendage...
• Slack-tivists (They are “fashionate”)
• Self-absorbed
• Ambiguous about future
• Postponed maturation

What are some key steps that need to be taken for artificial maturity to evolve into authentic maturity?
Adults must perform some balancing acts with kids, helping them balance autonomy and responsibility; information and accountability; screen time and face-time (in-person experiences); community service opportunities with self-service time. Two examples are:

1. We must be leaders who are both responsive and demanding. We must offer support but also enforce standards. I describe this type of leader as a velvet-covered brick: soft and supportive on the outside but strong and principle-centered on the inside. We must balance tough and tender leadership.
2. We must relay messages early and later in their childhood and adolescence:

Early Messages (First ten years)
• You are loved
• You are unique
• You have gifts
• You are safe
• You are valuable

Later Messages (Next ten years)
• Life is difficult
• You’re not in control
• You’re not that important
• You’re going to die
• You’re life is not about you

Do you still have hope for the iY generation?
Yes! I’m not hopeless. I am optimistic. But with one caveat; they’ll be great if we adults will re-think the way we parent, teach, coach, manage and lead these kids.

How does Artificial Maturity differ from other books?
This book offers practical ideas to develop authentic maturity in kids. I describe my previous book Generation iY as the diagnosis and Artificial Maturity as the prescription. I crowd-sourced 20,000 people who lead kids & asked: “what are best ideas you’ve seen to grow kids?” Each chapter ends with a few of these real-world examples.

What is Growing Leaders—the organization that you founded and currently lead?
Growing Leaders is a non-profit organization created to develop emerging leaders. My team and I provide public schools, state universities, civic organizations, and corporations with the tools they need to develop young leaders who can impact and transform society.

Praise for Artificial Maturity

"Artificial Maturity is a 'must-read' for leaders in business, government, education, and community service. The insights from Dr. Elmore are vital for family life as well. This book has challenged me to change how I lead, teach, and parent the iY Generation . . . and to make those changes immediately!"
—Tim Tassopoulos, senior vice president of operations, Chick-Fil-A

"Without question, this is the right book, tackling the right subject, written by the right person, and delivered at the right time. Tim has proven through his previous writing, speaking, and teaching that he understands today's generation of young people and has high hopes for their future. As a university student affairs administrator, I had whiplash as I read this book—from nodding my head in painful recognition and passionate agreement. Anyone who cares about the future of this generation and the generation following them should read this book."
—Mary Gerardy, dean, Wake Forest University

"Artificial Maturity is a perfect example of putting meaningful thoughts into action. Dr. Tim Elmore sets out to explain the bumpy road that faces today's youth and then provides us with authentic solutions on how to assist them in maneuvering down the road of life. It is a powerful exploration of the mind of today's youth and the outside forces that influence their daily decision making and maturity."
—Kevin Roberts, executive director, Lanier Law Firm

"The need to provide strong leadership for our children has never been greater. This groundbreaking book lays out a diagnosis and a prescription for what caring adults can do to help our children grow into healthy, happy adults. I highly recommend it to parents, teachers, coaches, and youth workers everywhere."
—Jo Kirchner, president and CEO, Primrose Schools