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Original poster

Children on Child Genius Emotionally Immature

60 replies

TeamCersei · 17/08/2017 15:41

First off, I love watching it and I think the children are all brill.
But, I can't help thinking that even though they are very mature academically, their emotional maturity seems way behind most other children.

Is this usual?
Does one thing suffer at the hands of the other? Confused

Another thing that 'fascinates' disturbs me is the way some parents will encourage their children to compete against each other.
Some of the filthy looks these siblings throw at eachother when one is beating the other is just wrong.
You just know that this level of competitiveness is setting them up for having a very cold relationship with their siblings in later life.
It's the parents fault for encouraging it.

OP posts:
PlayOnWurtz · 17/08/2017 18:38

If you want to see these parents in the wild take a trip to the eleven plus forums, it's really scary.

I only watched the first episode and wanted to adopt Rahul he's going to go far because people will go aww and take him under their wing because he's smart but not the type to brag.

I have a high iq as do my dc and I've deliberately nurtured them to have social skills because my mum focussed on my intellect but I'm totally socially inept.

Cagliostro · 17/08/2017 18:43

Haven't seen this series yet but going on previous series YANBU

Booboobooboo84 · 17/08/2017 18:59

@fresh8008 again I get what you mean however it would be irresponsible parenting to not encourage a child to find something they enjoy reading, something they enjoy doing sport wise and something they enjoy playing recreationally. Yes in most cases you don't have children that are all rounders there will always be those that have an intense passion for one thing. My issue is that parents should be encouraging the balance even if they don't achieve it.

wizzywig · 17/08/2017 19:04

There are kids who can focus for 2-5hours?? Sheesh! Im jealous

diamond49 · 17/08/2017 19:27

Why do you think the kids are way behind on the emotional maturity frontl .they looks like Regular kids to me

Original poster
TeamCersei · 17/08/2017 22:05

Why do you think the kids are way behind on the emotional maturity frontl

Mainly because of how they act when they win and lose

When they lose there is a lot of gloating and winding the sibling up.
The girl who was doing this last night seemed really immature.

It's behaviour that my less intelligent children were exhibiting as 5 year olds.
I was shocked, because I thought that super intelligence went with super maturity (or at least maturity suitable for their age)

Also, they seemed ultra anxious about 'failing', more so than the average child.

OP posts:
Original poster
TeamCersei · 17/08/2017 22:06

What I'm trying to say is,
Their immaturity seemed at odds with their intelligence.
If anything, it was below par, with children their own age.

It's very interesting.

Maybe these parents aren't doing their children any favours by pushing and pushing and pushing.
Something's gotta give.

OP posts:
Original poster
TeamCersei · 17/08/2017 22:09

The girl who beat her sister last night was exhibiting behavior that was on a par with a five year old - all that prancing and flouncing, even though she was, what, 9/10?

My very average love the bones of them children would never have acted like that, at that age.

There's definitely something lacking.

OP posts:
Original poster
TeamCersei · 17/08/2017 22:12

Seriously, what utopia do you live in? That is common in badly behaved children in general. I have seen it in siblings at swimming galas, school, birthday parties, playing in the garden and all over the place.

Rubbish.
Siblings, if left to their own devices, aren't usually competitive with each other.
Competitive with the rest of the world, yes.
With each other, no.

OP posts:
HalfShellHero · 17/08/2017 22:14

I dont know if its always emotional immaturity or that their paresnts are so in awe of their superior child Hmm that they arent broughf into line the same way other children are.

HalfShellHero · 17/08/2017 22:15

parents brought

Original poster
TeamCersei · 17/08/2017 22:15

That's possible, HalfShell.

OP posts:
Fresh8008 · 17/08/2017 22:22

Booboobooboo84 I completely agree with you. I am just imagining for example David Beckhams Mum trying to take the football away from him and saying lets go read a good book... And yet society accepts that sort of obsession, yet when very bright children spend a similar amount of time learning they are dismissed as weird freaks that have been hot housed by abusive parents.

Fresh8008 · 17/08/2017 22:26

There are kids who can focus for 2-5hours??

Well they do take breaks, but yes give a genuinely maths obsessive child a puzzle and they will still be going several hours later, you try and stop them.

Fresh8008 · 17/08/2017 22:28

When they lose there is a lot of gloating and winding the sibling up

Seriously TeamCersei have you ever met any siblings except your own DC. That is normal common behaviour.

Fresh8008 · 17/08/2017 22:29

Also, they seemed ultra anxious about 'failing', more so than the average child.

Ummm... Its a TV program, even adults get ultra anxious when confronted with 'failing' in front of a camera.

Fresh8008 · 17/08/2017 22:30

Siblings, if left to their own devices, aren't usually competitive with each other

Ummm yes they are.

PickAChew · 17/08/2017 22:32

Asynchronous development is something pretty well documented in gifted children.
www.nagc.org/resources-publications/resources/social-emotional-issues/asynchronous-development
Which makes some of the parental pressure I've seen in previous series of this particularly horrific.

BrightOranges · 17/08/2017 22:40

I think it's a hideous programme. I feel for the kids but, of course, it's geared this way to pull the viewers in.

And don't get me started on the naff A4 laminated name tags hanging round their necks Hmm

MiddleagedManic · 17/08/2017 22:42

PickAChew - you beat me to it :) Was the first thing I thought of when read the op.

Booboobooboo84 · 17/08/2017 23:16

@fresh8008 I'm sure Beckhams mum tried to get him reading more but failed miserably.

Don't misunderstand anything I've said I think it's a good idea and great to see intellect being celebrated. It's a shame it isn't more like the US spelling bee championships rather than the focus on the parents like this current series. But that's entertainment I guess.

I think the two girls I've seen so far professing their love for books is definitely something I could identify with at that age but I was still encouraged to do other things. And that's what appears to be lost with some of these children.

But again we are only being shown the dramatic bits. I'm sure with the siblings there are loads of lovely moments. But they don't make good tv

Fresh8008 · 18/08/2017 00:01

It's a shame it isn't more like the US spelling bee championships
Sky UK TV ran a spelling bee TV program earlier this year. I didn't see it. Anyone know if it was any good?

Fabios mother is awful.
Tonight Sofia knocked out her spiteful sister Francheska. Smile
And Ronan (can't say he is not a balanced child) challenged Rahul for top spot.
We need more of this to try and make being clever a cool thing.

PlayOnWurtz · 18/08/2017 00:27

It is well recognised that smart kids don't know how to fail (hence the tantrums) which is why I put my kids into schools that encourage and support failure that leads to success. Kids need to learn failing is a positive thing but it seems none of these kids on this show have grasped that.

Allington · 18/08/2017 02:15

It also depends how much the 5 hours doing their 'thing' is adult directed or the child doing their thing. DD loves dance, and will happily spend an hour or so (not 5 hours!) making up and practising a dance. That's fun for her.

She also has an hour dance class twice a week - she enjoys it but it isn't playing in the same way her self-directed dance is.

My brother loved maths and would spend hours puzzling out problems. Entirely his choice. Having to spend that time in maths problems set by others would have been very different.

Allington · 18/08/2017 02:20

And DB has spent the 25 adult years of his career in the science world, very happy to be paid for puzzling out problems surrounded by like minded people.

I have no idea where DD ends up, but I suspect it won't be a job that involves a lot of sitting down Grin