Is 17 years old considered a child?
Oct 31, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Introduction
In general, 17 years of age is not considered a child but rather an adolescent. From a medical perspective, children are typically defined as individuals from birth up to 12 years old, while adolescents refer to those between 12 and 18 years old. In many countries and regions, 18 is regarded as the age of adulthood, meaning individuals begin to assume legal responsibilities and obligations.
Generally speaking, 17-year-olds are not considered children but adolescents. The detailed explanation is as follows:
From a medical perspective, children usually refer to individuals from birth up to the age of 12, while adolescents are those between 12 and 18 years old. Therefore, a 17-year-old is classified as an adolescent rather than a child. In many countries and regions, the age of 18 is regarded as adulthood, meaning individuals begin to assume legal responsibilities and obligations.
Psychologists believe that adolescence begins around age 13 and continues until 18 or even later, representing a period in which an individual's psychological and physical development gradually matures. Hence, a 17-year-old falls within the adolescent stage, not the childhood stage.
Parents are advised to provide appropriate encouragement and maintain open communication, guiding their children properly to help them develop healthy personality traits and successfully navigate through adolescence.
