At what age are you no longer considered a child?

Question

In biblical times, women who were twelve years of age would be married with children of their own, but in today's age, a twelve year old is considered "too young" to have a child.

Who decides what a child is, and when is one no longer considered a "child"?

And I'm looking for more than a simple answer, like "When they hit puberty". A person can hit puberty in elementary school, but they still hold their mothers' hands when crossing the street. They still complain and throw tantrums when they've already gone through menstruation.

I'm looking for insightful answers, please!

Answer 1

i think some one is not a child when they are over 10 and MATURE a 10 year old can be more mature then a 14 year old and i would consider the 10 year older then the 14 year old=)

Just my opinion

Answer 2

I would say any time between 15 and 18... depends on the maturity of the individual. I don't think that you can just say all 16 year olds are adults becuase they aren't... many still can't function without mommy and daddy, which is totally fine!

As for who decides what a child is... society has dictated that by the age of 18 ALL people should be mature enough to be able to make their own decisions. This means they have gone through (at least most of) high school and had a few life experiences by this point. It means that they are capable of rational thought, understand what is "right" and "wrong", and are responsible for themselves. Closer to home it is a parental decision to "let your children go" and fend for themselves, learn for themselves, etc which all goes back to how mature/grown-up each individual is as well as what kind of parents they have (I do think that one goes with the other though).

BTW, people complain, throw tantrums, AND hold their mothers hands all their life. Growing out of childhood doesn't change human nature.

Answer 3

Obviously the values of society changes and so does the individual's role in it. Our society has rather arbitrarily decided that a person has grown up at 21; to biblical society - and to Mother Nature too - childhood ends with reproduction. This comes as no surprise because the human race continues to distance itself from nature. Why? Technology? I think not. I see technology as an effect more than a cause. Not too long ago we were more connected with nature because, with less population, we had to be, i.e. we needed kids to tend the flocks, gather firewood, work the fields, etc. Now, in a world of 6.5 billion, who really needs kids? For what? To pay the rent? Play video games? Have moooore kids? No. So what defines adulthood now? Sexual activity? No. Play with genitalia is still play. Sex for eons before us was less play and more a means of survival. Soon we may have to sterilize people to survive!
Good question yours – food for thought. I’d recompose this little essay if I had time (I’m a quadriplegic and write with one finger).
For me, adulthood is related to wisdom. I’ve met oldsters with no wisdom and some wise youth. No matter what the criteria, childhood is a relative concept irrespective of age (but more respective of knowing the ways of the world).
Bye.

Answer 4

College age students (18 & up) r no longer considered a child in that they can sign legal documents and loans for themselves, many go sign up for military service, can most definately be held accountable for their actions on an adult level. But the reality is they usually are very much still a child. Naive in financial management, contracts and leases. Most still depend on their families for financial supplement, if not their entire existance. Many r still trying to figure out their new level of personal freedom, time management skills and yet we say that they have the right to vote. So while 18 is conisdered an adult, I still think 18-21 r still teatering between child & young adult era...

This new generation is presenting themselves as more mature in some aspects and yet still childish in others. Sex doesn't show maturity. Many children engage in it thinking they are going to find someone to love them. But they are clueless what love is. Parenting today is very complicated. We need to teach self worth, hard work ethic,charity, and provide basic life skills. Too many r growing with little in values and feel the world owes them. A sense of entitlement.

Answer 5

Legally, you are no longer a child when you turn 18, or have been legally emancipated.

However, when emotional development is concerned, the answer is much m ore challenging. The answer can vary by each child. The determination, in my opinion, should be made by the parents of the 'child'.

A child that exhibits adult characteristics - through thought patterns, behavior, maturity, emotional control, etc may be viewed by the parents as not being a child anymore. I think the person's ability to act responsibly is an important consideration.

Answer 6

that is not an easy question.for example there are adults (age 25 and older all things being equal) who still need to be taken care of by there parents.i would think that when you are responsible enough to take care of yourself without the support of your parents,this of course is in a finacial aspect and definately living on your own in your own house or apartment you are an adult;but even with that many so-called adults still behave in a childish manner.so although the law says at 18 you are legally an adult ,i say when you put aside childish ways you are an adult.being an adult means being mature not in a physical state but mentally and spiritually as well.unfortunately some never make it!

Answer 7

Child is used to describe immaturity and undeveloped little beings running around. When in comes to physical sense, I think we're no longer a child when we are for the most part done developing into adulthood (and that's at random age). When it comes to psychological sense some 50 year olds are still children and lots of adults can still be very immature

Answer 8

I consider the definition of a child as an individual who requires the attention and dependance of adults to get through daily activities, including finacial responsibilites.

Depending on the environment a child is raised in significantly changes the age in which he or she is ready for adulthood I think. I was ready to be on my own at 18, and paid most of my bills by 19. But I would say the majority of today's children are children up to about 19, since college today has become an extension of childhood.

I'm 24 and know this, how sad for me. LOL

Answer 9

the legal answer is 21 but being a child and acting like one is different i know people in their 80s who act like children it is a personal thing each person is different in one way or another just because you can have a baby at 12 does not mean your ready in other respects it all has to do with your own mind and how mature it is in america we spend alot of time raising children in the hope that they will be mature and live a good productive life by the way good luck to you

Answer 10

i think you are mature when you can make a choice between right and wrong and actually know the difference. you can think you are mature at 12 or 13 but who would you turn to if you got into trouble? i know it seems like you will never reach adulthood but once you do you have the rest of your life to worry about bills and jobs and kids. enjoy being a kid now and dont sweat the little things