Actually - any skill can be taught at any age, with any person, no matter what their age.
However, it's been found that if you can find good methods for teaching, the younger - the better. This is because during the time that neurons are being developed in children's brains, their learning capability is unparalleled compared to an average adult.
In fact - it's the "growing up" negativity that many adults seem to mistake for being "on task." You'll notice that besides the fact that teenagers become teenagers at an age when their brains are no longer producing new neurons, and are finally getting a more stable setting within their mind:have more trouble with school.
There are first the flaws within the education system. They don't teach you how to focus, they don't teach you how to enjoy being taught, they don't teach you memorization methods, or anything to enhance the process.
Second, their brains are no longer child's brains. They're dealing with more revealed and serious issues a lot of the the time. Things that they're discovering about "life" and how what many might describe as not being "happy" in a lot of ways, like some children can interpret.
Third, besides the negativity, there's no more RECESS! C'mon, now! (Yeah, I'm personally complaining here. 
) Recess gets blood flow going, waking kids up. Blood flow means ENERGY, and energy means a better ability to learn.
THANK YOU,
youngprer
(A lot of the stuff I just talked about is from The Einstein Factor. Such a great book!! )
