We too often expect kids to act like adults. Hell, I myself don't even want to act like an adult sometime. I have the 'freedom' of not yet having kids but whenever my niece comes around, I let my inner child loose. It really helps to take a moment and consider what the world feels/seems like from the eyes of an intelligent, very capable child.
I relate to this. In my case I think it's because I lacked parenting generally. I was just sort of left to my own devices. It basically made me into an adult sized kid lol