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Comment by aortega | Hacker News Reader

I don't get this "Child's brains are better" thing. A Child needs up to 10 years to speak, read and write correctly in their native language. An adult can do it in a couple of years, months sometimes (not my case!)

I have a small kid and yes, their intelligence development is shocking and completely unlike any other creature on earth. But are there any proof that childrens are actually better/faster at anything than an adult?

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>But are there any proof that childrens are actually better/faster at anything than an adult?

Feral Children say otherwise. Chances are if you missed the ability topic to pick up language in your first 5-9 years, you will never learn language at all.

> A Child needs up to 10 years to speak, read and write correctly in their native language. An adult can do it in a couple of years, months sometimes.

Er, what? Can you cite any research that an adult with no prior language can acquire language proficiency faster than a child with no prior language?

Learning a second language is not the same as learning a first language. There are many things you use from your first language that you use to learn a second.

Ok scratch language. What about maths, or programming? My personal theory is that the only advantage kids have over adults its lots of free time. Not a small advantage, that is.

> My personal theory is that the only advantage kids have over adults its lots of free time.

And is your "theory" informed by the research results in neuroscience, or is it just idle speculation?

Most adults can never learn another language without an accent no matter how many years they practice. Children do it easily.

Can you explain this?

Need proof of this. I've known several adults that have no accent. I'm not saying that disproves your statement, just that we need some research.

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