Would you consider a 17 year old an adult or a child?

[Clarke1979]

A lot of people on here seem to think that 16 is still only a child but 17 is practically an adult. What do you think? When you think of a 17 year old do you think of an adult or a child?

I'd say not quite either. It's a transition age, isn't it? Too old for kids go free, too young to drink, but old enough to drive. I remember thinking 17 was the weirdest age to be.

At 17 I was in school, living with my parents, had a part time job but otherwise no real responsibilities aside from studying. I was definitely a child.
At 17 my husband joined the army and moved across the country on his own. I’d say he was an adult.
so maybe depends?

At 17 I had left home, was working full time and paying my own bills. I'd would say I was an adult.
At 17 both of my children were in full time education and I was financially responsible for them. They both worked part time. I would say they were well on their way to becoming an adult but not quite there.

Op are you 17??????

Young adult, legally they can move out get a job, drive a car, get married (Scotland), have sex, vote

But stupidly they can't go to the pictures to watch others have sex, or toast the bridesmaids!

Young adult, at 17 I was living alone.

Child.
I'm not comcived 18 is adult tbh. Don't our brains mature until 25? I changed massively from 18 to 25.

16 is an adult. I think it's a shame so many people treat them as children.

Well they are neither, they are an adolescent in general terms.

For some things it depends on context. Legally they are a minor until 18, but gain certain rights at an earlier age.

Neither really, I'd say a young adult.

It very depends on the person, to state the obvious. I was at university having just turned 17, many people here will have left home to live independently. O tempora, o mores! Nowadays, I’m sure most will tend to them being 17. Look, you have to stay in education till secondary to 18 now.

Child. They probably think they’re an adult, but they’re really, really not.

Young Adult, being child to adult doesn't happen in a day.

Looking back I’d left school at 16, with enough qualifications for uni though chose not to go, was driving and working full time.

So I’d say adult; but still needing guidance and if still living at home still a child in that regard.

I'd say child.

Definitely not all the way to adult, but not a child either. At 17 DS had a job, a car, paid for most of his own stuff etc. He was still in school and living at home though. Nearly 19 now and does his own thing but I still wouldn’t say he’s an adult in every aspect. He’s learning though.

Young person

Sums it up perfectly

At the age of 17, I'd try treating them and talking to them as if they were an adult. Obviously they'll have lack of experience in some areas, which you'd naturally want to support or have a say over what you think as an 'adult'.

Legally as above pp says under 18 is a child.
Schools and organisations should treat them more as child re safety, protection and safeguarding.
Alcohol and pubs also. Child

I moved out with a baby just shy of my 17th birthday. Ds left school, went to college, worked, and was also pretty adult at 17. Although neither of us were immune from making some pretty stupid adolescent decisions!
I think there is a bit of an England / Scotland divide here, as north of the border 16&17 are considered adults in more legal ways versus down south (eg voting age, school leaving age..)
I’d treat a 17 year old as an adult unless they gave me reason not to.

Child.

Child.

Weird in between age really!

Can drive a car and work etc but not drink, legally still a child.

Many 17-year-olds are months away from going to uni miles from home and living independently so I do find some of the attitudes I’ve seen on mumsnet a bit questionable eg 17-year-olds with 9pm curfews, needing to know their every move, horrified that a 17-year-old CHILD is having sex or trying alcohol. I think those are 100% the ones who go to uni and go OTT, can’t handle their drink or freedom sensibly at all.

Child.

I consider quite a few 18 years olds to still be children based on their behaviour.

And some into their 20s are still bloody kids! 😁

Legally an adult, biologically an adult and emotionally an adult are all different things.