Children

Children are young human beings. While there is no specific age cut-off to being considered a child, typically at some point in mid to late adolescence a child comes to be known as a young man or young woman. Many cultures and traditions do have rites of passage that occur at a defined age, after which the person is considered to have full adult status, but this is more symbolic than practical in today's modern world.

Adoring parents will typically refer to their offspring as "their children" even when they are quite old, and perhaps have children of their own.

Grandchildren are one's children's children.

Under copyright law, a person's "children" are that person's immediate offspring, whether legitimate or not, and any children legally adopted by that person.

Child Discipline

The bible makes it clear that children require teaching, guidance and discipline. Parents should be compassionate (Psalm 103:13) but should also spank their children to correct their behaviour. Proverbs 13:24 is clear that "Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them" while Proverbs 22:25 says that "Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away" and Proverbs 23:13 says "Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish them with the rod, they will not die."

See also

• Nuclear family
• Atheism and children
• Atheists and baby eating
• Causes of atheist eating babies