> The older you are, the more effort it takes to learn new things. My experience has been the opposite. Learning is also a skill, and at this point I am extrem

> The older you are, the more effort it takes to learn new things. My experience has been the opposite. Learning is also a skill, and at this point I am extremely accomplished at it. > School-age kids become native speakers in terms of years with little effort Often repeated, but doubtful. School-age children burn through incredible amounts of energy per body mass. There is almost nothing they do which is "little effort". Probably originated because children (and adults) learn best through play, which is biologically how animals are designed to learn. But somehow "play" doesn't count as "effort"