I totally agree that the experiment Amethyst posted about is correct. It depicts the MAIN reason that I detest showing any of my nephews or neice any attention or interest at all, although I would like to, but on my own terms. If you ask about a new toy, or ask them to do the latest cart wheel or summer sault, you have just signed your life away. Kyds will worry the PISS out of you and progressively demand more attention to the point that it's impossible to even carry on a conversation with anyone else in the room. They would STFU and go play by themselves if their mee maws and moomies didn't encourage this needy behavior with the, "Show Aunt Kim THIS toy", or..."Tell Aunt Kim what you learned in Vacation Bible School today...", or...."Show Aunt Kim how you can build a whole town out of your leggos...", or "Get Aunt Kim to let you do a makeover on her with your new pre-teen kiddie make up set"(NO THANKS!!!)
Many kyds today are made to feel that they are worthy of being the CONSTANT center of attention and that only their feelings matter. I am NOT interested in watching their "tricks", or their leggo building prowess, or how they can count to 100, or how they can recite all of the books of The New Testament, or how they can peck out (poorly)Silent Night in the key of C on the piano, or how they can brush their own teeth or hair, go big boy poopie in the big toilet, etc........In my opinion these are average, common, and normal "milestones" that they should be able to do and do on their own without any fanfare. No one in the real world gives a SHIT that a ten y/o can put gas in a lawn mower without blowing himself up, or that a 4 y/o can recite his ABC's by rote, that a 5 y/o can decorate a fucking Christmas cookie, or that a 7 y/o can color a page out of a cheap coloring book and "stay in the lines". A BIG DEAL, none of that is and to pretend that it's equivalent to discovering that infamous "cancer cure" is doing the kyd a grave disservice. IMHO.
I know some adults who still crave this type of constant attention and back patting. I avoid them, HATE to be around them, and quite frankly I find their behavior rather embarassing.