Do you know any late bloomers? Support them. Late blooming children are often pressured to hurry and catch up with their peers. Why? We all readily accept that children mature at different speeds – physically. Remember the same is true for mental and  social development.  Too often we pile praise on children who have already acquired advanced social skills or progress faster academically – the best students in class. Late bloomers are quite aware of society’s preference and they often struggle with it. Slower children need to hear that it’s fine to be a late bloomer. They need extra encouragement and be told that some birds hatch early and others late, and that all are perfect and special!