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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Would also add (re social and emotional development) that, like your daughter, I was the eldest and, for a variety of reasons, I had household and childcare responsibilities that probably kept me grounded.  Babysat a lot for neighbors as a teen.  And was often asked by teachers  to help others in school (starting in ES). Basically, I wasn’t set apart or encouraged to focus exclusively on my schoolwork because I was smart. I got asked to help and, in the context of doing so, developed other kinds of skills and relationships.[/quote]

I'm one of the folks upthread who skipped a grade and regretted it, and this is SUCH GOOD ADVICE. While I did babysit in the neighborhood, I was basically given an "opt out" of family chores because I was "busy reading." In retrospect, this was bad for my work ethic but also really terrible for my siblings, who had to go chop wood or whatever while I focused on what I wanted to do instead.

Which actually brings up a point I meant to mention. I grew up pretty isolated in a rural community where education was not much valued, which almost certainly redoubled my isolation from my peers. When I think about it, I think I would have been just the top edge of normal around here, rather than an extreme outlier in Nowheresville, WV. The OP is hopefully going to be able to give her daughter much more intellectual engagement than my parents were able to give me, just because there were limited options.

I'd recommend an instrument, or martial arts, or a sport. Literally anything that won't come easily, to teach that important connection between hard work and mastery.

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The kids who grew up doing chores and having jobs are going to be way better functioning socially and in school and employment as well.[/quote]

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