The topic of peer pressure is raised in connection with nearly every issue relating to parenting.

However, the issues are different in the case of maturity. Parents often observe how mature their child's peers seem to be, and they try to assure themselves that their own children are no less mature than their peers.

The children, for their part, observe other children, especially those of their own age, and they try to copy things they do, even if it is not appropriate for them. They try to keep up with their peers, just as adults try to keep up with the Joneses. Those peers may give them the push to mature more quickly.

Granted, some other peers may show less maturity. However, they are selected as role models less frequently. Those who encourage the child to mature more quickly are more frequenly admired and emulated.

Even worse - the child may not be able to distinguish between mature behavior and daredevil activities, chutzpah, and other socially unacceptable things that they see older children do.

This creates a separate set of problems.