Children Quote by Andrew Solomon
““In the 1990s, Miraca Gross studied children who were radically accelerated, starting college between eleven and sixteen. None regretted the acceleration, and most had made good and lasting friendships with older children. By contrast, gifted children stuck with age peers experienced rage, depression, and self-criticism. Today, most gifted programs keep children in an age-based setting some of the time and a skills-based setting the rest of the time. Neither affords a perfect fit. The mathematical prodigy Norbert Wiener wrote that the prodigy knows “the suffering which grows from belonging half to the adult world and half to the world of the children about him.” He explained, “I was not so much a mixture of child and man as wholly a child for purposes of companionship and nearly completely a man for purposes of study.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Far From the Tree, Andrew Solomon, 2012
Research shows gifted children thrive when placed with older peers, while age‑matched groups can cause emotional distress, underscoring the need for flexible educational environments.
In simple terms: Gifted kids benefit from mixed‑age learning, not strict age groups.
Key Takeaway
Create learning settings that match both age and ability.
Themes
education
development
mental health
Mood
insightful
hopeful
Type
expository
analytical
When to use this quote
- school curricula
- accelerated programs
- peer mentoring
- mental health support
Key Concepts
giftedness
social integration
Questions to Reflect On
- How can schools balance age and skill diversity?
- What support helps gifted youths feel belonging?
A Different Perspective
Rigid age‑based classes may limit social and emotional growth.
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