Author: Maturit? or immaturity??
Date: 04-04-12 15:11
I have noticed that often in characteristics of gifted there is comment that gifted kids like to associate with older kids. I haven't seen this with my own. Both are slightly grade accelerated, both seem quite 'mature' to me as an adult but they definitely do not fit with the older kids in their classes- in fact my kids tend to despise the 'social, popular' kids as being ditzy and obsessed with music/clothes etc. But this is interpreted by eg teachers as my kids being 'immature' because they don't want to adore 'One Direction' etc so they are seen as childish. Actually they are pretty interested in physics, sociology, history etc. which seems to me more 'mature'. Its as if they have skipped right over their age peers but others don't see that and think they are young for their age.
Anyone else recognise this problem about what is seen as 'mature' or 'immature' in pre/early teens?
Yip, I recognise that one! Two out of my three gifted kids never related to kids their own age or slightly older, especially during those teenage years. Through outside-school interests they made great friends who were on average 5-10 years older than them. They are/were not immature for their age, quite the opposite! "Skipping over their age peers" is a very good way to put it!
It is something I have thought about often with my 13 year old daughter. She is 2 years accelerated and in some ways is very immature (still loves her cuddly toys). But in other ways she seems to have missed all the giggly boy stuff (I guess it could still be to come but most of her age group have been there a while). I was interested to find out that the girls she spends her lunch time with are all a year above her at school - she seems to prefer their company because they talk about lots of interesting (and quirky) things rather than clothes, boys and how nice their hair is. It seems like she has realised there are bigger issues in this world and hasn't been sidetracked by the trivial stuff. To me that is a sign of maturity but I guess we will have to wait and see.
