Child This article is about the juvenile human

This article is about the juvenile human. For other uses, see Child (disambiguation).
Children swinging
A group of Young Pioneers of China in 2009

Biologically, a child (plural: children) is generally a human between the stages of birth and puberty. [1] [2] The legal definition of child generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger than the age of majority. [1]

Child may also describe a relationship with a parent (such as sons and daughters of any age) [3] or, metaphorically, an 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 child of the Sixties". [4]

 All children go through stages of social development. An infant or very young child will play alone happily. If another child wanders onto the scene, he/she may be physically attacked or pushed out of the way. Next, the child can play with another child, gradually learning to share and take turns. Eventually, the group grows larger, to three or four children. By the time a child enters kindergarten, he or she can usually join in and enjoy group experiences.^[8]