For you, is a child an adult at the age of 16, 18 or 21? (life, self)

[lewimaech235]

The biological definition of an adult is an organism that can re-produce, and the last time I checked, humans are biological creatures/organisms. Mentally, they are not fit for our complex world of rationalism, however. We are a little more than just basic animals.

[blktoptrvl]

To me a child becomes an adult when they wake up. To me waking up means that they are:

• Aware of the need for and the way money and credit really works.
• Who they can and can't trust.
• What relationships are healthy and which are destructive.
• When they understand the difference between a job and a career choice.
• What it means to stand on their own two feet and not be a burden and how to avoid those who want to use you.

I've known some 16 year old adults and far more 35 year old children.

[lewimaech235]

Originally Posted by blktoptrvl

To me a child becomes an adult when they wake up. To me waking up means that they are:

• Aware of the need for and the way money and credit really works.
• Who they can and can't trust.
• What relationships are healthy and which are destructive.
• When they understand the difference between a job and a career choice.
• What it means to stand on their own two feet and not be a burden and how to avoid those who want to use you.

I've known some 16 year old adults and far more 35 year old children.

Don't forget to include when their bodies can handle adult things, physically & mentally

You can have a mature 9-year-old, but you don't want it drinking.

[jtur88]

For me, it depends on the "child". They don't all become adults at the same age.

If you are going to assign an arbitrary statutory age, how about this idea: Legal adulthood is attained on the date of graduation from high school (but not less than 16), or at age 19 for anyone who has not graduated from high school. With schools entitled to expel any student after age 16 for conduct disruptive to the educational environment of the school. Drivers license age would be the same,and automatically suspended until 19 if dropping out of school before graduation. Drinking age the same, it is stupid to be the only country in the world that bans drinking until 21.

This would be an incentive to people 16-19 to remain in school, and figure out how to start acting like adults. Most people who remain in school would graduate and become adult at about the age of 18. Those who choose to drop out of school or who get expelled would be penalized about a year. Anyone who has graduated from high school has pretty much demonstrated that they can be trusted to begin assuming adult responsibility.

[lewimaech235]

Originally Posted by jtur88

For me, it depends on the "child". They don't all become adults at the same age.

If you are going to assign an arbitrary statutory age, how about this idea: Legal adulthood is attained on the date of graduation from high school (but not less than 16), or at age 19 for anyone who has not graduated from high school. With schools entitled to expel any student after age 16 for conduct disruptive to the educational environment of the school. Drivers license age would be the same,and automatically suspended until 19 if dropping out of school before graduation. Drinking age the same, it is stupid to be the only country in the world that bans drinking until 21.

This would be an incentive to people 16-19 to remain in school, and figure out how to start acting like adults. Most people who remain in school would graduate and become adult at about the age of 18. Those who choose to drop out of school or who get expelled would be penalized about a year. Anyone who has graduated from high school has pretty much demonstrated that they can be trusted to begin assuming adult responsibility.

A very backwoods, conservative perspective. But, I'm still curious to know how our country came up with how to classify an adult.

[soundofsilence82]

A child is an adult when they grow up.

[lewimaech235]

Originally Posted by soundofsilence82

A child is an adult when they grow up.

Be a little more specific please. When do you consider a "child", "grown up"?

[believe007]

The question shouldn't be about a number...
It should be about the maturity of the person.
I never got to have a childhood, so by the time I was 16 I was seriously
way more mature than people who were a decade ahead of me.
Conversely I know people now in their 20's who act like they're 14....
no independence from their mothers, no jobs, no responsibilities
So I never go by the numbers--
Although I do think in this country if at 18 you're considered adult enough to join the military-
Then 18 yr olds should be able to legally drink too (as they do in Germany)

[lewimaech235]

Originally Posted by believe007

I never got to have a childhood, so by the time I was 16 I was seriously
way more mature than people who were a decade ahead of me.

I felt the same way at that age. It can work both ways.

[IspeakFact]

In the Black community your child is grown when they start talking back.