Child
A human between birth and puberty, or a legal minor.
A child is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty, or between infancy and puberty. The term may also refer to an unborn human being. In English-speaking countries, the legal definition of child generally refers to a minor, a person younger than the local age of majority, regardless of physical, mental, or sexual development. Children generally have fewer rights and responsibilities than adults and are classed as unable to make serious decisions.
- field
- Human development, law, sociology
- known_for
- Being a stage of life between birth and puberty; legal minor status; subject of rights and protections under international law
- legal_definition
- Under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, a human being below age 18 unless majority is attained earlier
- developmental_stages
- Early childhood (infancy to age 5–6), middle childhood (ages 7–9/10), late childhood/preadolescence (ages 9–12)
Lore & Background
The biological sciences define a child as a person between birth and puberty. Legally, the term may refer to anyone below the age of majority or some other age limit. In Singapore, a child is legally defined as someone under age 14 under the Children and Young Persons Act, while the age of majority is 21. In U.S. Immigration Law, a child refers to anyone under age 21. Some English definitions include the fetus. In many cultures, a child is considered an adult after undergoing a rite of passage, which may or may not correspond to puberty.
Reader's Guide
The concept of childhood has evolved over time. During the European Renaissance, artistic depictions of children increased dramatically, but this did not have much effect on social attitudes. The French historian Philippe Ariès argued that during the 1600s the concept of childhood began to emerge in Europe, though other historians like Nicholas Orme have challenged this view, arguing that childhood has been seen as a separate stage since at least the medieval period. Adults saw children as separate beings, innocent and in need of protection and training. The English philosopher John Locke was influential in defining this new attitude, especially with his theory of the tabula rasa, which considered the mind at birth a blank slate. During the early period of capitalism, a large commercial middle class in the Dutch Republic and England brought about a new family ideology centered on upbringing. The modern notion of childhood with its own autonomy and goals emerged during the 18th-century Enlightenment and the Romantic period. The idea of childhood as a locus of divinity, purity, and innocence is further expounded in William Wordsworth's 'Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood.'
Did You Know?
- In Singapore, a child is legally defined as someone under age 14 under the Children and Young Persons Act, while the age of majority is 21.
- In U.S. Immigration Law, a child refers to anyone under the age of 21.
- The French historian Philippe Ariès argued that the concept of childhood began to emerge in Europe during the 1600s, but historian Nicholas Orme challenged this view, arguing childhood has been seen as a separate stage s
Frequently Asked Questions
What defines the 'Child' life stage?
Childhood spans the period from birth through puberty, encompassing infancy, early childhood, middle childhood, and preadolescence. In some legal contexts, the term can also extend to an unborn person.
What are the recognized developmental sub-stages of childhood?
They are typically divided into early childhood (infancy through roughly age 5–6), middle childhood (around ages 7–9/10), and late childhood or preadolescence (approximately ages 9–12).
How is 'child' defined under international law?
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child sets the threshold at under 18 years of age, unless a given jurisdiction grants majority earlier. This legal definition applies regardless of a person's physical, mental, or sexual development.
What rights and limitations apply to children compared to adults?
Children generally hold fewer legal rights and responsibilities than adults and are considered unable to make serious decisions on their own. International frameworks specifically grant them protections and a set of recognized rights distinct from those of adults.
Why is the 'Child' stage significant in the broader life-stage framework?
It marks the foundational period of human development during which physical, cognitive, and social capacities form, and it carries distinct legal protections because minors are deemed to need guardianship and structured support before reaching adulthood.
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