re Children Are Not 'Junior Adults'

Children Are Not Junior Adults

Core Principle

When a psychologist says “kids are not junior adults”, they mean that children do not think, feel, or behave like smaller versions of grown-ups. Their brains, emotions, and abilities are qualitatively different, not merely less developed.

Brain Development

A child’s brain is still under construction, especially the prefrontal cortex, which governs impulse control, planning, and emotional regulation. As a result, children often cannot do things adults expect of them, even when they “know better.”

Thinking and Understanding

Children think more concretely than abstractly. They may interpret language literally and struggle with nuance, sarcasm, or long-term consequences. What appears obvious to an adult is often not obvious to a child.

Emotional Capacity

Children experience emotions intensely but lack adult tools to manage them. A meltdown is not manipulation in most cases; it is usually a sign of overwhelm.

Responsibility and Behavior

Children require guidance, modeling, and structure rather than adult-level expectations or punishments. Treating children as “small adults” can lead to shame, anxiety, or confusion.

Why This Matters

This principle shapes parenting and discipline, education, therapy, and how adults speak to and about children. Children grow through distinct stages, each with its own internal logic. Respecting those stages fosters safety for the child and wisdom in adult response.

Children mature through stages, not shortcuts. Understanding this protects both the child’s development and the adult’s judgment.