Now is the era where children have never lived without internet and cell phones. With unlimited access to information and being bombarded by the media, it’s no wonder that kids are growing up at an accelerated rate.

In light of the recent Olympic scandal, where some Chinese competitors were cited to be under-aged (not to mention, trained from the age of three), a viable question becomes: are minds being molded into professionals much too young? Child prodigies have been popping up of late in all genres from music to art and religion. And while the average adolescent is mowing neighbors’ lawns or selling lemonade on a street corner for pocket change, these kids are stationed at the head of church pulpits or being invited to DJ at Grammy after parties. Though still just children, these distinctive youngsters stray from the typical careers and excel in areas where even adults struggle to succeed. psychoPEDIA takes a look at five young kids with quirky talents:

Austin Visschedyk & Blaine Hewison
Even if you aren’t a celebrity being stalked, most gossip-rag-readers still aren’t fond of the aggressive and in-your-face paparazzi. But what happens when you throw a couple of baby-faced teenagers in the mix? Austin Visschedyk, 15, and Blaine Hewison, 16, are the first young boys on the red-carpet frontlines (high-end cameras provided by their parents) snapping away at celebrities for the perfect shot. Besides being known for making at least $500 a shot, they also have inside scoop to which celebrities are naughty or nice, which they intend to reveal on the website for their one-year-old self-run business, Pint Size Paparazzi. While their age makes staying out past curfew one obvious obstacle, the two shutterbugs have also admitted to fighting over money and publicity, resulting in Visschedyk breaking away Pint Size and now freelancing on his own.

DJ Sara & DJ Ryusei
The once underground genre of hip hop turtableism catapulted in to the mainstream thanks to DJ Mix Master Mike’s beat production for the Beastie Boys in 1994. A complex skill of manipulating vinyl records to form breaks, beats, and scratches, most ordinary DJs won’t even attempt, let alone master, this form. Ironically enough, nine-year-old DJ Sara and six-year old DJ Ryusei have already managed to impress music industry bigwigs and audiences alike with their undeniably superior turntable skills. Using their father, DJ Eiichi Kishimoto’s set-up, the brother and sister duo from Japan have created a buzz from their showcases posted in You Tube videos and were even invited to perform at a Warner Group Music Grammy party earlier this year.

Alexa Kitchen
Published at the age of five, Alexa Kitchen has already forged a respectable career in comic book art– praised by the likes of Mark Schultz, who wrote the introduction in her latest book, Kidding Around: Postcards by Alexa Kitchen, World's Youngest Professional Cartoonist. The success of her art is due in part to her childlike innocence, though with a sophisticated point of view to which adults can relate. Comic Book Artist Magazine interviewed her at the age of six and the MoCCA book fair was where she made her public debut. Described as indifferent to her fame, her royalties from sales have gone straight to her college education fund and a few stuffed toys.

Tiny Masters of Today
Like many independent bands, Tiny Masters of Today can relegate a story of humble beginnings on MySpace. But unlike many struggling artists, not only were they very young-– Ivan at age 13 and younger sister Ada at 11 when they began-- but their fans include some of contemporary music's hard-hitters. Their momentum escalated only months after releasing tracks on MySpace, and they became fast friends with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, CSS, Liars. Even David Bowie became a fan, comparing with them with rock royalty, the Shaggs. And if being compared to artists maybe more than three times their age isn’t enough, these little Brooklynites’ latest album Bang Bang Boom (released on Mute Records) features appearances from Karen O and Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Kimya Dawson of the Moldy Peaches, Fred Schneider of the B-52s, and Butthole Surfer Gibby Haynes.

Charity Williams
Nicknamed the “Pint-Sized-Preacher,” 7-year-old Charity Williams of Goldsboro, North Carolina is one of the youngest ministers in America. Starting her career behind the mic at the ripe age of two, Williams already has the confidence and delivery to challenge any passionate minister, which likely comes from her status as a third generation preacher, with both mother and grandmother being influences to her talent. Wearing her robe with pigtails in ribbons, Williams can incite thunderous applause from her congregation. Despite providing sermons that show a maturity beyond her years, Williams is still a 7-year-old girl who loves riding her bike and playing with her dolls just like any other.