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A '''child''' (plural: children) is a [[human]] between the stages of birth and puberty. The [[legal]] definition of "child" generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger than the age of majority. "Child" may also describe a [[relationship]] with a [[parent]] or [[authority]] figure, or signify [[group]] membership in a clan, [[tribe]], or [[religion]]; it can also signify being strongly affected by a specific [[time]], place, or circumstance, as in "a child of nature" or "a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sixties child of the Sixties]."[1]

A '''child''' (plural: children) is a [[human]] between the stages of birth and puberty. The [[legal]] definition of "child" generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger than the age of majority. "Child" may also describe a [[relationship]] with a [[parent]] or [[authority]] figure, or signify [[group]] membership in a clan, [[tribe]], or [[religion]]; it can also signify being strongly affected by a specific [[time]], place, or circumstance, as in "a child of nature" or "a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sixties child of the Sixties]."[1]

==Legal definitions==

==Legal definitions==

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child defines a child as "a [[human]] being below the age of 18 years unless under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier."[2] [[Biologically]], a child is anyone in the developmental stage of childhood, between infancy and adulthood.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child defines a child as "a [[human]] being below the age of 18 years unless under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier."[2] [[Biologically]], a child is anyone in the developmental stage of childhood, between infancy and adulthood.

==Attitudes toward children==

==Attitudes toward children==

Social [[attitudes]] toward children differ around the world in various [[cultures]]. These attitudes have changed over time. A 1988 study on European attitudes toward the centrality of children found that Italy was more child-centric and Holland less child-centric, with other countries, such as Austria, Great Britain, Ireland and West Germany falling in between.[3]

Social [[attitudes]] toward children differ around the world in various [[cultures]]. These attitudes have changed over time. A 1988 study on European attitudes toward the centrality of children found that Italy was more child-centric and Holland less child-centric, with other countries, such as Austria, Great Britain, Ireland and West Germany falling in between.[3]