Girl, 3, joins Mensa after taking IQ test in Russian

[SheilaT]

7. Yes.

Children are wonderful in their own way. I had two of them myself, so I tend to like children a lot. But there are profound differences between children and adults.

Some children speak very early. A couple of times I've been around very young children -- I'm talking under age two -- who had what is best described as precocious language skills. Genuinely precocious. But emotionally, they're still two years old.

My sister's oldest daughter (a year younger than my oldest son) was considered by my sister to be very mature for her age. She wasn't. She was adultified. She had mannerisms and behaviors and the language of an older person, but she was still only 13 years old. Or 14. Or whatever age she was.

I'm not saying hold kids back. If they have skills or talents or whatever, go for it. But never forget that emotionally and psychologically they are still the age they are.

So how do you deal with an apparently advanced or precocious child, you ask me. Give them some kind of enrichment. If you can afford various programs, do so. I was fortunate that this was possible. But if you can't afford stuff, figure it out on your own. It's really not that hard. Encourage them to read or volunteer or something that suits their talents. Honest. Kids still need time to be kids.