Reply to People treating my “big” 8-year-old as much older than she is

Forum Index » Elementary School-Aged Kids

Reply to "People treating my “big” 8-year-old as much older than she is "

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]What are the expectations or ways she is treated older? 
This happens a lot with black girls, they look older ahead of white girls so get treated differently. Sexualized at a young age etc. it’s not ok. [/quote]

I use to be an educator and saw that first hand.  Especially with Black & Latina girls who were physically developed.  It was disheartening.

DD is white and so it’s not as emphasized as it would be for a taller, more developed Black or Brown child.

As far as expectations, I think many adults expect her to have the maturity and interest of a preteen.  If she and her friends are running around or being too loud adults tend to correct her faster (even one’s who know her age).  She gets a lot of, “you know better!” for pretty age appropriate and mild childhood misbehaviors (like talking out of turn).

Granted she is an extreme rule follower.  She’s very sensitive to criticism and is a major people pleaser.

With strangers it’s just the assumption she’s older.  At the park if she’s playing with 6-8 year olds their parents will ask her age.   If we go to a clothing store the clerks tend to point her to a clothing, shoe area geared towards preteens not kids.

The biggest issue is my mother.  It’s apparent she expects DD to act more mature than my brothers daughter who is only two months younger (petite, thin girl).   Her standards for her are higher and she’ll get onto her for essentially being a child.  It gets frustrating. [/quote]

OP,
I think you have lost sight of the bigger issue.  Your child is clinically obese.  Forget her looking older.  [/quote]

She is not obese or even overweight.  Is she a thin kid?  No.  He’d BMI is on the high end of healthy.  Our doctor is not concerned.  She has had these proportions literally since and probably always will.  I’m not worried about her weight and I won’t shame my daughter for a body she has. [/quote]
OP, my family is built this way and it does really help to be active.  Sports like running and swimming help us match our proportions to our height.  You might try swim team or Girls on the Run for her.  Being fit and trim may help her confidence as she heads into puberty as the "tall kid."  Nothing drastic, just healthy activities that can carry through adulthood.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics