Henry’s maturity

[pixiexw]

This is something that’s came into my head a lot recently- probably because I’m thinking ahead to a scene when he will be the only person there when his grandma’s waters break and she goes into proper labour – but it’s more than just that scene.
Sometimes he seems so childish, like talking about wanting to be a hero and wanting to learn how to sword fight and all.
Then the next minute he’s so in tuned with what he needs to do and say. He seems to understand things a kid his age wouldn’t. Like the way he acts when realising he’s been lied to- I wouldn’t have had any thoughts on some of his issues when I was 10/11.
Another situation was the beginning of 2×10 when he and his mum walk in on that situation. Sometimes it appears he knows exactly what was going on and other times I think it goes right over his head.
So what do others think, is he immature or mature or average for his age, maybe I’m just losing my touch when it comes to kids his age.
Also, if you want, how do you think he would react in my scene?

[PriceofMagic]

I think Henry would freeze up if Snow went into labour. Snow would have to direct him in what to do. Henry likes to talk the talk, but when it comes down to it, he can’t walk the walk.

Henry is approaching that age when he is starting to notice girls so somebody is going to have to do the birds and the bees talk with him.

As for Henry’s maturity, in some ways he’s had to grow up fast, in others, he’s very naïve. He’s bright but sometimes he makes stupid decisions (trying to blow up the well with dynamite). Henry lets his emotions cloud his judgement which I think will get him into trouble whatever age he is. With proper discipline and guidance from the adults around him, Henry could probably grow into a mature teenager, however if he’s allowed to constantly get off consequence free from some of his more unwanted behaviour (speaking disrespectfully to Emma, lying to those he cares about, running off, stealing dynamite) then Henry could become a problem teenager.

All magic comes with a price!

Keeper of Felix

[Josephine]

Henry’s actually not too far off from where a normal kid his age is at. He just lives under supernatural circumstances. I work with preschoolers to Elementary school kids and some kids are very precocious. The key with kids in primary school is you can’t talk down to them. I have eight year olds that can follow complicated topics better than adults, but then in some ways they’re totally ignorant. Kids in the tween phase have just enough knowledge to make them dangerous but not enough maturity yet to understand some of their actions.

Henry’s at that age where if you try to talk to him as a child he will rebel. We’ve seen that again and again. Most kids need reasons to understand, even for simple things. As an adult, it’s hard not to say back, “I’m the adult and I know what’s best so listen to what I say.” You don’t have to reveal everything, but explain your reasoning in terms understandable to the child’s age and maturity level.

As for Henry reacting to Snow going into labor, how old is he in the story? He’s what now, eleven? So, and I’m probably thinking too much about it, adding nine months for gestation he’d be around twelve in your story when the baby is born. That’s old enough to know about babies and I would write it as him doing what Snow says without a problem. He’d know to call 911 and follow the instructions and give directions and so on if the story takes place in Storybrooke. He’d be frazzled and worked up but he’d be okay. I don’t think I’d have him actually delivering the baby, although I have seen stories of it on tv, but getting people to her I think he’d be fine.

Keeper of Rumplestiltskin's and Neal's spears and war paint and crystal ball.

[timespacer]

@Josephine wrote:

Henry’s actually not too far off from where a normal kid his age is at. He just lives under supernatural circumstances.

I think he’s best described by a combination of the two quotes above. He has shown remarkable bravery and maturity in some events because he’s had to respond to remarkable challenges (where I might have just frozen up, sat in the corner and cried when I was 10!). Also, when we talk about him lying or running away, we need to remember that his mother was the Evil Queen! Unlike most kids, Henry was in a situation in the first season in which opposing his mother really was the right thing to do. But I like the fact that doesn’t mean they have written him as a 40-year-old in a kid suit. Because he’s more mature than average for his age, that means he can have a more mature response SOME TIMES – but it doesn’t guarantee it will happen ALL the time. The inconsistencies are what make the character more real and more interesting. Like Josephine, I’ve seen 12 year olds that were a lot more mature than many adults when dealing with some issues, but were still kids and were clueless about other issues. They still needed support and guidance.

We saw an early example of this way back in the first season. I think it was the third episode (“Snow Falls”). Henry had shown a lot of courage and maturity in bringing Emma to town and in making plans to break the curse. When Emma expresses doubt that Regina will fall for Henry’s lie about being at the arcade instead of with Emma, he says “She wants to believe it, so she does” and Emma replies “Imagine that!” with an ironic tone in her voice that clearly refers to Henry’s need to believe in the curse, but the comment goes right over his head – he clearly takes her reaction literally. I liked that scene when I saw it because it was the first clue I had that the writers were not going to fall into the TV trap of making the kid too precocious and always putting adult lines in his mouth.

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