User:Arjunverma 28/Childhood

Children generally have fewer rights than adults and are classed as unable to make serious decisions, and legally must always be under the care of a responsible adult or child custody, whether their parents divorce or not.

'''Childhood is neither never-ending nor universal; biological and psychological variables, as well as age, are not the only elements that influence it. Instead, childhood is defined in relation to specific historical eras as well as specific cultural and social circumstances. Growing up in Mexico is not the same as growing up in Madras or Madrid, just as growing up in London at the start of the third millennium is not the same as growing up in London two centuries before. For instance, childhood in the more developed northern countries is now viewed as an extended period of protected innocence and economic dependency, during which play and education are considered essential components. This is very different from childhood in many other cultures, where work (whether paid or household work) must take precedence over play and education.'''

Adolescence is usually determined to be between the onset of puberty and legal adulthood: mostly corresponding to the teenage years (13–19). However, puberty usually begins before the teenage years. Although biologically a child is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty,[1][2] adolescents are legally considered children, as they tend to lack adult rights and are still required to attend compulsory schooling in many cultures, though this varies. The onset of adolescence brings about various physical, psychological and behavioral changes. The end of adolescence and the beginning of adulthood varies by country and by function, and even within a single nation-state or culture there may be different ages at which an individual is considered to be mature enough to be entrusted by society with certain tasks.

'''Adolescence may be a period of confusion as well as exploration. During this phase of transition, teenagers may have to make difficult decisions regarding their education, friendships, sexual orientation, gender identity, drugs, and alcohol. These decisions can lead to questions about independence and identity as they develop their sense of self. The majority of teenagers have an extremely self-centered outlook on life, which often fades as people get older. They frequently put their attention on themselves and think that everyone else, even their closest friend or a far-off crush, is doing the same. They could struggle with emotions of inadequacy and disapproval. Family relationships frequently suffer during this period because teens place a greater value on peer groups, love interests, and attractiveness.'''

In 2013, child marriage rates of female children under the age of 18 reached 75% in Niger, 68% in Central African Republic and Chad, 66% in Bangladesh, and 47% in India.[73] According to a 2019 UNICEF report on child marriage, 37% of females were married before the age of 18 in sub-Saharan Africa, followed by South Asia at 30%. Lower levels were found in Latin America and Caribbean (25%), the Middle East and North Africa (18%), and Eastern Europe and Central Asia (11%), while rates in Western Europe and North America were minimal.[74] Child marriage is more prevalent with girls, but also involves boys. A 2018 study in the journal Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies found that, worldwide, 4.5% of males are married before age 18, with the Central African Republic having the highest average rate at 27.9%.[75]

'''The practice breaches the rights of children of both sexes, even when biological and social factors protect young married boys and girls from the same risks and harms. Like child brides, young grooms are forced to take on adult responsibilities for which they may not be prepared. Because of the connection, the boy might become a father at a young age, which could make it harder for him to provide for the family financially. Additionally, it can prevent him from attending school or advancing in his career.'''

'''115 million boys and men got married before turning 18 worldwide. The nations where child marriage is most prevalent among boys are geographically diverse and distinct from those where it is most prevalent among girls. Although there are fewer child grooms than child brides, both groups have had their childhoods cut short by a violation of their rights. The factors that lead to the practice and how it affects child grooms require more investigation.'''

Under Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, a 'child protection system' provides for the protection of children in and out of the home. One of the ways this can be enabled is through the provision of quality education, the fourth of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, in addition to other child protection systems. Some literature argues that child protection begins at conception; even how the conception took place can affect the child's development.[97]

'''The World Health Organization (WHO) has released regional studies on the prevention of child abuse as part of its efforts to reduce violence against children. It was suggested in the 2013 report for Europe that all of the European nations establish national plans based on interdisciplinary efforts and establish research goals. Additionally, it called for improvements in data collecting for monitoring and evaluation, as this information is critical to enhancing health systems' capacity to apply preventative and treatment measures. Furthermore, the World Health Organization has created a Toolkit to map the reactions of social, legal, and medical services to child abuse.'''

1) Article body82. Staff, P. (2024b). Adolescence. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/basics/adolescence
=== 2) Defining children and childhood. (n.d.).https://www.fwsolutions.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Defining-Children-and-Childhood.pdf%20https:/www.fwsolutions.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Defining-Children-and-Childhood.pdf === '''3) UNICEF. (2023, December 19). Child marriage. UNICEF DATA. https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-protection/child-marriage/'''

=== 4) Fegert, J. M., & St&amp;ouml;tzel, M. (2016, June 14). Child protection: A universal concern and a permanent challenge in the field of child and adolescent mental health - child and adolescent psychiatry and mental health. BioMed Central. https://capmh.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13034-016-0106-7 ===