S/he's (age) - AIBU to think this isn't always an excuse for poor behaviour?

[roastedalmondfudge]

Obviously there are times when the child's age and the poster's expectation so clearly clash it isn't unreasonable in the slightest to point it out (AIBU to expect my 8 week old to sleep through the night? / She's 8 weeks!)

But more and more, people post to mention a concern about a child's friend or a relative and, especially if in their frustration they use bad language to express it, the shocked flurry of posts replying "she's SEVEN!" "He's nine. You don't expect a nine year old to ... He's nine."

I don't know whether it is just me but I know plenty of unpleasant seven, nine, five year olds - most grow out of it. Some don't.

Is it just me who doesn't look fondly on children and think "ah, they are (such-an-age)" !

Helicopter parenting. The inability to let a child make it's own judgements and take responsibility for it's self. Always a parent hovering in the background making excuses and hanging on to the bubble wrap.

Having worked closely with families and mixed at the same level, I agree that age isn't the reason.

It is a mix of poor parenting/caring (for a varity of reasons), family/life circumstances (break up/Domestic Abuse) and a few other factors as well.

You can't right these things, even with close involvement, sometimes you can lesson the behaviour to an acceptable level, until the individual recognises/wants to be different.

It's right that a child isn't labeled, children can only be how those around them allow them to.

I see the advice to protect the Posters own children above all else, which is right. Teaching children to set and respect personal boundaries is vital.