Tizz,
I haven't seen this myself, but I have heard about it, particularly as girls get pressured to move away from imagination-based play, it may be that the younger ones are 'free-er' to explore their imaginational side.
I agree that we shouldn't judge by age, and if possible, should observe the interaction, or ask the child what she thinks. It may be that the older bright ones are too competitive. DS has very often attracted a rival amoung the '2nd smartest' boy in his classroom, and it's no fun!
BTW - when DS was 3 in daycare, there was a bright little girl who was 6 months older, who 'Mothered' him while I was at work. She would demand that her mom pack a snack for her and a snack for him every day. She also helped the teachers with tying the other childrens' shoes when it was time to get up from naptime and go outside. I think that the relationship was good for both of them.
Just a thought,
Good luck
Here's my 'humor alert' adivice regarding the gradeskip:
Skip her and buy her a hamster if she needs something helpless to look after!
Love and More Love,
Grinity
