Being real Quote by Jill Paton Walsh
“It is only grown-ups who want children to be children; children themselves always want to be real people.”
About This Quote
Source Play: The Children’s Crusade, 1995
Adults often impose idealized childhood, while children seek authentic adulthood.
In simple terms: Adults idealize kids; kids want real life.
Key Takeaway
Respect children’s desire for maturity.
Themes
adulthood
identity
expectations
Mood
reflective
empathetic
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- parenting
- education
- family dynamics
Key Concepts
social roles
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we honor children’s agency?
- What does “real people” mean to them?
A Different Perspective
Children may resist being treated as naive.
![“It’s just that we wear rose-coloured spectacles when we return here [to Oxford] – we are dazzled by the foolish idealism of our youthful years.” quote by Jill Paton Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b0f/jill-paton-walsh-38453_oxford_it-s-just-that-we-wear-rose-coloured-spe_272645.jpg)
![“[A]fter all, the position of a reader in a book is very like that occupied by angels in the world, when angels still had any credibility. Yours is, like theirs, a hovering, gravely attentive presence, observing everything, from whom nothing is concealed, for angels are very bright mirrors. Hearts…” quote by Jill Paton Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c06/jill-paton-walsh-38453_books_a-fter-all-the-position-of-a-reader-in-a_2137626.jpg)
