Adult vs Child

 
Child and adult are two terms that are used to identify two stages of human beings in
the society and thus, the primary difference between the two words are related to the
demarcation of the two stages. A child is a young human being, probably under the age
of 18. An adult, on the other hand, is a fully grown human being. In the society, the
adults have much more responsibility towards the others and themselves as well. This
is mainly because of their independent status. Children do not have a similar status as
they are dependent on others and are still going through the socialization process.
Through this article, let us examine the differences between a child and an adult.

Who is a Child?
A child is a young human being. According to the United Nations definition, a child is a
human being under the age of 18. However, biologically speaking, an individual can be
considered a child only until puberty. Nevertheless, in most countries, a person who is
under the age of 18 is considered a child. In every society, children are given
prominence because it is these children who become the citizens of the society one
day.

A child usually lives with his parents and relatives, in foster care or similar setting. It is
the societal belief that a child is unable to take important decisions alone, as he lacks
general awareness of society and has less experience. Children should not be treated
as the same as adults and should be loved and cared for. According to Psychologists,
childhood is an important stage in the overall development of an individual not only
physically, but also mentally, socially, and also emotionally. The development of a child
occurs through the formal and informal education that he receives both within the
premises of the school and also at home and his surrounding environment.