Kids doing stuff is generally far less impressive than adults

r/

Kids learn so much faster than adults. A child practicing a music instrument for example from age 5-10 is the equivalent of an adult practicing from 20-35. If anything, it’s more impressive for an adult to stick to learning something new while mastering their day to day life when children barely have anything else to do.

Children have a completely different center of mass and muscle to weight ratio, making a lot of feats involving carrying their own weight that are hard for adults a literal cakewalk for them.

Most of the stuff being posted on the internet of kids doing “next level” stuff is mediocre at best.

Comments

  1. AutoModerator Avatar

    Please remember what subreddit you are in, this is unpopular opinion. We want civil and unpopular takes and discussion. Any uncivil and ToS violating comments will be removed and subject to a ban. Have a nice day!

    I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

  2. Ciprich Avatar

    Yeah… this is a wild take.

    Two people playing the same guitar solo: a 7 year old and a 54 year old.

    The 54 year old is more impressive?? Okay.

  3. FlameStaag Avatar

    Bro are you jealous of literal children? 

  4. Delicious-Access5978 Avatar

    Not necessarily agreeing, but I’ve always found it odd when people act like a child who can sing well is anymore special than a grown up who can sing well. A good voice is a good voice

  5. SuzCoffeeBean Avatar

    Peak Reddit. What’s so special about a tiny handed 8 year old classical pianist!? Hmm??

  6. NoahtheRed Avatar

    OP is Dwight Schrute in a kid’s Karate (Kar Ah Tay) class.

  7. romeoinacoma Avatar

    anti-children people are the fucking weirdest creeps

  8. Dazz316 Avatar

    This is the same level of idiotic comment of people who say “oh well it’s not that smart when a dog does something, a human can do it too”.

    Context, we know a kid isn’t going to understand everything around a mortgage. But it can be intelligent within the expectations of the child.

  9. RubSimple3294 Avatar

    This was written by an older sibling

  10. Made-n-America Avatar

    🗣️ Sounds like a hater to me

  11. AzSumTuk6891 Avatar

    >A child practicing a music instrument for example from age 5-10 is the equivalent of an adult practicing from 20-35.

    I started playing the guitar when I was 21. Within the first year I was already impressing people with my skills.

    The secret? I dedicated a lot of time to practicing. I practiced at least two hours a day, every day. Apart from the guitar, I only had university classes to attend during the day and martial arts classes three times a week – which left me with enough time to practice.

    When it comes to music, kids don’t learn faster than adults. Adults just have a lot more on their plate and don’t have as much time to practice.

  12. dicoxbeco Avatar

    You would think with all those children conscripts in the modern warfare, they would also exploit them for others if they really are that efficient.

    But you don’t see any. How out of touch do you need to come up with something like this?

    Or, and I’m really hoping this isn’t what you actually think, are you actually advocating that children conscripts are the more efficient than the soldiers of adults?

  13. Orikshekor Avatar

    Whewww this is gonna be a good un

  14. DanielSong39 Avatar

    I learned musical instruments much much faster as an adult as I did as a child
    Maybe I’m an exception to the rule though

  15. BokChoyFantasy Avatar

    What a wild and petty take. Upvote earned!

  16. rumog Avatar

    Why are you threatened by little children 😭😭😭

  17. ChapterGold8890 Avatar

    My nephew has been doing algebra since he was 4. That has to impress you at least a little bit. 

  18. HairingThinline27 Avatar

    I mean, kids will do literally anything to impress people, they’ll stand there and spin around twice and act like they just qualified for the Olympics. Most of what kids do isn’t impressive and wouldn’t be even if an adult did it lmao

  19. Express_Split8869 Avatar

    Ehhhh… I don’t quite agree with your point as most talents also require discipline and an understanding of technique that can be rare among kids.

    There are definitely some skills that you’ll be better at if you START as a child, though. I wish I hadn’t been convinced to give up singing as a kid because if I’d have training as a kid, I’d have a wider range now than I ever will. However, I wouldn’t have been an exceptional singer as a kid. I know myself, I had too much trouble grasping theory and made excuses when I failed at techniques. Because most kids are like that.

  20. Lefunnyman009 Avatar

    Now this is the comedy I came here for

  21. stevejuliet Avatar

    I also regret not learning more cool skills as a little kid.

    But I don’t whine about it on Reddit.

  22. Roi_singe Avatar

    I think everyone knows this but it’s just a matter of human decency to encourage a child in what he is passionate about and in such a case, I hope you will get rid of this shitty way of thinking before having children.

  23. effyochicken Avatar

    I don’t really agree, but there’s one sentiment that I’d wager we both share: I fucking HATE when they allow children on talent shows that also have adults. It’s literally unfair, and there will be dozens of adults that sing better than the kid but they go “they sing amazing for being a little kid” and get extra credit.

    All talent-related shows should be split into kids-only or adults-only.

  24. jebwardgamerhands Avatar

    Yeah too bad I was never a kid once then I would really be something

  25. IllegalIranianYogurt Avatar

    And children have the self control and discipline of a child

  26. IA_Royalty Avatar

    OP definitely saw the child band playing Offspring and got annoyed

  27. rgbfayeee Avatar

    Nahhhh I’m trying to learn skiing and these kids are next level it rlly humbled me

  28. RedcurrantJelly Avatar

    A real unpopular opinion

  29. Astufcrustpizza Avatar

    Bro’s just mad he saw a random asian kid play guitar better than him

  30. Whoops_Nevermind Avatar

    I kind of see what you’re saying. Like if I wanted to learn a whole new language now, it would take a shite load longer than teaching a child from an early age. To the child it becomes second nature early on while the adult has to work bloody hard to achieve the same results. Is that about the gist of it?

    So should adults be praised more than children for such things? No, I don’t think so. As an adult I’ve learned that everything I do is for my own merit, my own personal achievement, and for personal gain such as becoming more qualified for my career goals or a payrise. I don’t expect anyone else to really care.

    But as a child the positive reinforcement for doing good things and learning as much as possible seems far more advantageous for their development and eagerness to learn etc.

    Well take the upvote. Also you’re amazing mate, give yourself a shiny. DM me all the awesome stuff you do on the daily and I’ll put it on a sticker chart for you.

  31. armchairplane Avatar

    I TOTALLY AGREE.  I almost made a similar post, but I knew I’d get the reactions you’ve gotten so I didn’t bother.  When I was a kid I could do a bunch of “impressive” stuff but I literally didn’t even need to try to do them.  It’s cool for sure, but impressive doesn’t seem like the right word.

  32. Adventurous_Law9767 Avatar

    Up until the brain is finished developing, learning and internalizing new things is drastically faster and more profound. It’s why education and extracurricular activities are so important.

    You can do anything later in life, there are no limits. But it’s going to take more effort, and on top of that maintenance of the skill.

    People who learn languages as children will always maintain it with ease compared to someone who learned a new language at the age of something like 45.

    I will agree that someone older picking up a new skill is far more of a feat. Doable, impressive. There is a reason age discrimination protections in employment start at 40.

  33. Mental-Huckleberry55 Avatar

    Definitely have kids! You can show them how much more impressive it is that you can complete an 8 piece puzzle

  34. Lil-Nuisance Avatar

    Reminds me of the redditor who argued Mozart’s newly discovered piece wasn’t all that good because it was something “you’d expect from an 8 year old composer” – how many fucking 8 year old serious composers does this guy know?

    Also, keep in mind, that they still have to simultaneously learn all the other normal adult stuff, while adults already supposedly have that knowledge and don’t need to worry about it (like, idk, boiling an egg without setting the kitchen on fire).

  35. Cost_Additional Avatar

    Is this what brain rot looks like?

  36. OnTheRadio3 Avatar

    I’m gonna be honest, my brain capacity feels much, much larger than when I was a kid.

  37. No_Swan_9470 Avatar

    You are right, I’m way more impressed that an adult had the courage to post this nonsense 

  38. ThatOneSadhuman Avatar

    I disagree

    As you age, we learn how to learn, which is a tough skill to develop.

    I am able to learn any topic at a much faster rate now that i have my PhD, than when i was in undergrad. Regardless of the content itself.

  39. ThisisnotaTesT10 Avatar

    Both have their challenges.

    Adults can often apply thinking or skills that worked in other areas when learning new skills, kids don’t have that similar wealth of knowledge.

    Kids are often forced to try to be good at things by their parents and therefore have strict discipline imposed on them. Adults need to self motivate and self manage.

  40. bythisaxeiconquer Avatar

    I would challenge any child to an MMA match

  41. minhngth Avatar

    Doing stuff is impressive no matter ages, from kids to elders. No one is “far less impressive” tho

  42. Riley__64 Avatar

    This just kinda reads like you’re jealous that kids can have special skills/talents

  43. North-Point7309 Avatar

    I sort of agree, I actually just had this conversation after watching an Americas Got Talent type of show but my point kind of comes from a different view.

    From experience, I was ‘forced’ to practice piano as a child and I feel like many children are almost pressured by parents to continue playing an instrument or dance or whatever. Parents might have already paid for lessons and/or keeping the child in lessons even if the child complains to like motivate them or something. Whilst an adult learning the same thing would take actual motivation, not driven by anything else or anyone else.

    I’m sorry, this is horribly worded haha, I’m not sure how else to put it.

  44. great_account Avatar

    When you talk about kids, you have to remember that they didn’t exist somewhat recently, and suddenly everything they do becomes a miracle.

  45. JokesOnYouManus Avatar

    Mate its alright to be jealous of a kid being talented at something, many are, no need to be so aggressive over it

  46. Regarded-Platypus821 Avatar

    I think it’s so lame when they draw pictures. Trees dont look like that, dummy.

  47. Whole_Horse_2208 Avatar

    Dude, I’m not impressed with my 6 year old niece stumbling over her feet during a ballet recital when I have seen dancers her age do way more impressive feats and more advanced dancing, so yes I’m going to be impressed when your average child cannot do those things.

  48. Opera_haus_blues Avatar

    Agree actually. So much shit is easier when you’re a kid. Skiing for the first time at ~8 vs skiing again when I was 20? A world of difference! Kids’ brains and bodies are so much more pliable, so they pick shit up easily.

  49. MikeandMelly Avatar

    Dudes in the Top 1% of unpopular opinions and still hustling with stuff like this. Can only admire it.

  50. No_Meringue_8736 Avatar

    A lot of what would be mediocre by adult standards is genuinely impressive for a kid though, if for no other reason than they picked a thing and actually stuck with it long enough to get pretty good for a kid, and their hard work should be encouraged. 

    My issue with it is that more often than not prodigy kids probably have really high, if not unattainable standards set by their parents parents, many who try to live vicariously through them and have them doing these hobbies because they want them to, not because it’s what the kids want. And many struggle with extreme burnout and imposter syndrome later because they were “the best” as kids, but when you’re older it’s seen as not very impressive. 

  51. Popular-Sound-2093 Avatar

    True, agreed, neuroplasticity and all that.

    Oh, good thing you were able to learn stuff at the age of learning being provided with the resources to practice extracurricular activities. Truly impressive

  52. eltara3 Avatar

    It actually really depends on what it is, but for some things I agree.

    Take quad jumps in figure skating. They are literally easier for children to learn, because to do them you have to be light and fearless. I’ve never heard of anyone that started figure skating as a hobby in adulthood and learned a quad jump. Maybe those people exist, if they do, I’ll be way more impressed with a 31 year old jumping quads than an 11 year old.

    On the other hand, if I see a 7 year old grasping university level mathematics, I will be way more impressed with that than a 37 year old having the same knowledge.

  53. ShirtPanties Avatar

    I disagree with the notion that kids learn quicker than adults because of any reason other than their surroundings and circumstances. Kids (talking from a 1st world perspective, I know this isn’t true of every child everywhere) don’t have to work, they don’t have to really do anything except go to school, everything in their life is taken care of for them, and they spend a lot of time with people teaching them everything.

    If an adult and a child both got one on one lessons on an instrument neither of them had ever touched, and the adult had the time and energy to focus on it, the adult would learn faster or at the same pace. Adults have a better memory, usually better discipline, better fine motor coordination, we’ve listened and experienced more music than children so our understanding of music is better.

    This is the same bs I hear about how kids pick up language faster than adults. It’s not true, if you put an adult in the same circumstances as a child and taught them a language the way you would teach a child then they’ll pick it up at least as fast as a kid.

  54. IndependenceSelect54 Avatar

    Are you talking about your own kids or someone else’s? If you’re child-free, I would think you have a specific motivation in saying this. If you are a parent saying this about your own kids, I would say that’s fair, you’re an adult, and you’re entitled to your own opinion.

    I’m a parent, and I never share anything about my kids, because I think that’s annoying and self-indulgent.

  55. yingyiyin Avatar

    Are we forgetting adults were children at some point, and therefore benefitted from the same brain plasticity? I don’t see any comments mentioning this, everyone is talking like adults and children are completely different species

  56. OkithaPROGZ Avatar

    No… that’s the thing though. Its not about learning, its about talent.

    I could play piano and guitar when I was 3, I didn’t practice much or anything. I just could. I was basically born with it.

    All I had to do was improve it by practicing and I could be a “child prodigy”. (kinda was)

    Its about the talent that makes it impressive. An adult could put in the work and practice to reach the same level of ability as I had as a 3 year old, obviously. Anyone can.

    But having a talent means 90% of the job is already done.

    I have a friend who had insane stamina since he was a kid. To no one’s surprise they won multiple awards for athletic and sports in big events. They didn’t practice like crazy or spent 3 hours in the gym everyday. They just could.

    An adult, or anyone could achieve his level by practicing, but that’s beyond the point.

    Everyone has their own talent, some more useful than others.

    But I actually disagree with making kids famous and stuff, my parents (even though being asian) didn’t force me to get me into competitions and stuff. I have friends who have had their lives somewhat ruined due to competition from a young age. My mom wanted me to focus mostly on my education so she just let me chill with the music stuff.

  57. That_Possible_3217 Avatar

    I mean you already kinda clarified by putting GENERALLY in the title. It’s no question that a kid preforming open heart surgery or landing a plane without assistance is pretty fucking impressive. Granted those things are impressive anyway, but as a kid even more so. So really it just depends on what “stuff” you’re talking about.

  58. Constant-Parsley3609 Avatar

    It’s true that kids often have more time to practice, but kids don’t learn faster.

    People only have the misconception that kids learn faster because (as you point out) they have more time in the day for learning and practicing.

    Adults have the advantage of having been alive for longer and technically having complete control over how they wish to spend their time.

    You could argue “if I had all the time that an 8 year old does then I could learn to play the piano too”, but you HAVE had that time. You had it when you were 8. And if you really wanted to, you could make that time now. You just choose to prioritise other things in your schedule.

  59. swagamaleous Avatar

    >A child practicing a music instrument for example from age 5-10 is the equivalent of an adult practicing from 20-35.

    That’s complete nonsense. A child learns faster, yes, but an adult makes up for that with much more focus and dedication. A child reaching a high level on an instrument is very impressive. Much more so if an adult does the same.

    Also the effect that makes you learn slower as an adult is vastly exaggerated. Neuroplasticity definitely exists, but adults can still learn new stuff efficiently. Stating things like “there is no point in starting to play the piano at 40” is complete nonsense. Even at 40, if you are dedicated you can still reach virtuoso level if you put in the work.