What Is Peter Pan Syndrome?
Peter Pan syndrome is a deep-seated belief that one will never, and must never, grow up. It is named after the legendary character of the same name who lived in Neverland, a place where kids are immune to aging.
The story of Peter Pan fascinated me as early as five years old, way before I knew what it was like to feel like an adult. I still keep an image in my mind of a particular moment in the play, when Peter Pan flew into the children’s window while they were sleeping and brought them off to Neverland. I think that scene delighted me because I, like other kids, had fears associated with sleeping - probably some combination of darkness, robbers, and dying. The act of sleeping itself is such a mystery to me even now that I can understand why my young mind would see it as fertile ground for something mystical and unknown to happen.
The very idea that one could be saved from the creepiness of sleep, from the powerless grasp of unconsciousness, was not only plausible, it was too wonderful not to believe. In that protected, naive state that characterizes children, I hazily imagined the eternal playground where Peter Pan lived, with its lush flora, children swinging on vines, parties, dancing, laughter, and complete removal from that other dimension known as everyday life.
That picture in my mind is still there. It has been weathered by the army of adults who have politely tried to tear it up with their rules and reminders about “the real world,” but the stubborn five year-old inside of me has resisted. In truth, I don’t believe that we are damned to honest Christian work ethics and middle class toil. I believe that I could be walking through the streets of New York City, turn a corner, and enter a jungle with raging rivers, sparkling waterfalls, and fairies swooping through the sky.
I am in love with childhood and with Neverland. I only wish I could find a way to bring back the vividness of that magical place that I knew best when I was five. If I could re-build Neverland exactly as I remember it, I would - anything to reclaim the hope of living forever as a child.
This is Peter Pan Syndrome. Those who don’t have it are missing something vital. After all, as Peter Pan said, “Fairies only exist if you believe in them.”
109 Comments
I am 24 yrs old and I have always believed in Peter Pan and Never land. For me Peter Pan represents childhood innocence and bliss, where one is devoid of malice and ill thoughts and where one is free and carefree. Neverland is a mental arcadia or utopia where I like to ensconce every now and then. For me it looks like a European meadows with high grasses stretched far till the eyes can wander. A place where the wind blows softly and the sun is mild and the sky clear blue. I hear laughter of children amongst the tall grasses and I run wild and free catching grass chaffs on my dress…
For me it’s not escapism or shunning adult responsibilities but to keep the inner innocence alive and all those magical dreams which endure hope in us humans by even being an adult. I have Peter Pan Syndrome.
I finally found people who are like me! 
I have known I have Peter Pan syndrome since I was 13, even my therapist agreed and confirmed it.
Now I´m 19, 20 next month and I HATE IT!
I feel like my PPS has only been enhanced by the “adult demands” I have had thrown in my way over these few years!
I`m a makeup artist which is really a perfect job for a artistic, creative, child-like girl like me, I enjoy it so much it doesn`t even feel like work but like a beautiful hobbv. I also love how I´ve kept my childish freedom, so to speak, for example I can just draw a heart or a star on my cheek,which I often do, and have people look at me funny on the street!
I always get good feedback about my face art from children though!
I am 14 years old, and I feel like my parents are making me grow up. Its really really bad. I really hate it. I’m 5’10” tall, so everyone thinks that I’m about 18 or something. They expect me to act older than I am. It sucks.
Anyway, some of the things that I love are fairies and unicorns there is this cool book that you should all read called “The Secret Lives of Elves & Faeries” which was taken from the Private Journal of the Rev. Robert Kirk. Its amazing and gives me chills it can be so awesome sometimes. luv ya all
I found out that I had peter pan syndrome - or at least found the name for it - when I was 12 or 13. I’m almost 15 - in about 6 months. gosh time passes by quickly sometimes. I sure don’t feel like I’m 14!!!!!
I came across this site because I was on a Zodiac website that said one of my personality traits was ‘Peter Pan Syndrome’. I didn’t really have a clue what it was, so I searched on google and found this link.
I can relate to this in so many ways. Growing up used to bring a fear to me. If someone asked what I wanted to be when I was older… I used to think ‘who cares?’ Why does everyone bother so much? When your so young, you just want to go out to play with your friends, not worry about your career!! Now I am 20 years old and I feel every year is going quicker and quicker. I really wish I could be 7 years old again. When nothing matters, noone was judgemental, if you said something out of place or made a mistake, you didn’t feel silly or weren’t made to feel stupid!
I still have a childs imaginition. I still like my fairytale movies and would watch Peter Pan anytime lol. However, it would have to be alone because most people wouldn’t want to watch a ‘childrens’ film! I understand that when you get to a certain age you need to act in a responsible way, which I do, but sometimes you miss being a kid!
This site has really made me feel comfortable, I don’t know I have Peter Pan Syndrome, but I feel like I relate to what has been said. I thank the author!
Yah… I know it’s a little unusual to think that a good person is wanting not to grow up because of some magical freedom they experience. But I have some reasons why I still choose immaturity.
There are some odd but seemingly good things I have come to love in choosing a toothy laugh than a smile. It can still get me close to whom I want to punch! And it lets me start up a pillow fight. It erases the malice! It hides me inside a solitude of purity and innocence. It drives consciousness away and sets me free from things I don’t wanna think about.
It helps me run away from my past and keeps me from facing my uncertain future - eradicating all my fears in an instant. It connects me to everybody at all ages and takes me to places other grown-ups could have not thought about. It atones for me when I am irresponsible and forgives my crashes! It makes fun of my mess-ups and lets me enjoy being soaked in the rain. It reminds me that you can’t just point to a rainbow and allows me to hide under the blanket after lightning. It helps me win my conversational arguments and lets me say things without consent. It promotes my best running and lets me pick and squeeze the flowers around me. It grins at my bare feet and loves my dancing on a dusty floor. It examines the scratches on my knees with a smile and picks me up with a warm hug.
Immaturity is adorable! And it’s worth keeping. It makes me see the world fearless, without hurts and the rules of relations.
I’m 25 yet still feel like a kid inside. I fondly remember those nights of falling asleep and dreaming wild dreams. Yes, there were risks(nightmares) but that came with the territory. My were those the days…sigh.
I remember walking in the woods up north and utterly amazed at God’s creation. Back when our hearts were unedited we believed in just about everything! Weather it be Santa Claus, Peter Pan, or even the Boogie Man. Our imaginations ran wild.
I often have dreams about Peter Pan too. One of the best ones was when I was flying over Neverland with Peter and some of my school friends.
i was wondering who here thinks they have peter pan syndrome and why?
im doing an essay on this and i would love it you could help me out!
Nice thought Evan. I’m 68 years old and my life goal is be productive, be aware of reality, care about other people, but never, never completely grow up. It works for both me and my 65 year young wife. We have made a pact: Life is too boring if you are totally mature.
We have ways to escape to Neverland: play surrealistic computer adventure games such as Myst, go to Las Vegas, take a cruise or flight to exotic places, explore Hawaii and Europe, snorkle or scuba, spend time globe hopping on Google Earth, visit fanciful museums such as the City Museum in St. Louis, read or see science fiction or fantasy novels or movies, laugh as much as possible.
In short, keep your mind open to new concepts and adventures and you will “live long and prosper”. A certain amount of the Peter Pan Syndrome is a healty thing. Total maturity is to be avoided at all costs.