To refer to 17 year olds as 'children'?

[containsnuts]

I noticed this a lot in the media lately and wondered what other people think of it. At 17 you can get married, drive, vote (Scotland) and are considered criminally responsible but somehow still often referred to as a 'child' in non legal contexts. What's wrong with 'teenager', 'young person' or 'young adult'? What are your thoughts?

My 17 year old is still a child in every way so yes I do refer to them as a child.

My 17.5 year old is becoming an adult and I am more and more adjusting my expectations of her accordingly. She isn't a child, she's almost 18 and therefore almost an adult, treating her as child would do her a huge disservice.

Teenager seems a bit informal. I don't like when private schools refer to boys and girls, talking about say A-level students - it makes me cringe a bit.

I think of 17 year olds as young adults. Thats probably because I'm older, and how we were treated at that age.

Well 17 is a child.

18 is an adult.

Teenager could be anything from 13-19

Young adult could be an 18yo - just an adult.

I could go on

My ds is 17 next week. I call him a child because he is one. But I'll also say "bloody teens" if he's being an arse etc.

Neither is wrong and neither is better than another or makes it clearer imo. As long as the age is printed next to where it say child then the articles aren't misleading.

YABU

It's because legally they are children in a lot of other aspects.

So depending on the context I call them "teens" or "children". I only refer to teens who 18+ up to those who are 25 as "young adults".

If they can't drive an HGV or buy fireworks then they're not an adult.

17 is a child.
18 is an adult

Legally 17 is a child and 18 is an adult. But its not a flick of a button on your 18th birthday everyone matures at different rates

In paediatrics they often class up to 25 as children because development isn't complete until then.
Loads of threads on this. 17 is a child IMO. Just because the law says they can marry doesn't make it a good idea.

@containsnuts

I guess legally they are, but some 17 y.o.s are more mature than some 45 year olds I know!

It's like people are ELDERLY at 65 (legally,) but most people would be hugely offended at being called that at 65. You should be called elderly when you're 80, not 65. And maybe you're only a child til you're 15!

I dunno. SO many variables, and so many different maturity levels. It's hard.

I think of 17 year olds as young adults. Thats probably because I'm older, and how we were treated at that age.

I agree. I was in full time work and living away from home at 16. My friend was a married mother three weeks after her 18th birthday. We managed to cope with life.

@FizziWater

In paediatrics they often class up to 25 as children because development isn't complete until then. Loads of threads on this. 17 is a child IMO. Just because the law says they can marry doesn't make it a good idea.

Yep

I was in full time work at 16, my now late DH at 15.His father, at 15 lied about his age to be allowed to join the Army in WW1. His real age was discovered the following year and he was quickly discharged.This was after nearly a year in full combat.My grandparents were in full time work at 13.
This of course was a long time ago when the earliest age you could leave school was 13, so you were classed as an adult then.

They're technically children, even if they're mature for their age. I'd refer to them as young people, not young adults though.

In terms of troops there, does anyone think more troops would have helped?
Literally so many to be able to comb every inch of the country and weed out the talibn.

In paediatrics they often class up to 25 my DD is having an op 4 weeks after her 16th birthday and is in adult ward, discharged her pediatric consultant.
I consider 16+ a young adult, pp saying 17 is a child in every way is odd as I expect them to be mature bad capable, my DD2 went to uni at 17 and I definitely didn’t consider her a child.

I think you need to consciously begin to make adjustments to the relationship once they turn 16 and start to seriously prepare them for independent living.

I find it weird when people call 19years olds adults teenagers. Teens are 13-17 once you are 18 you are an adult. Why need tack teenage tag for another 2years. Oh must get home to fed the teens etc

I don't think of 17 year olds as children, no.

I don't see 17yo as a child.

DS goes to Scouts, and there they're all referred to as "young people". I'd go with that.

My children are in their mid twenties.
They are my children.
I'd never call them 'my young adults.'

I refer to my 18 year old DD and her 19 yo boyfriend as "the children", simply because it amuses me, "DP, ask the children to sit down for dinner". They are reasonably well-brought up children, so they always laugh politely.

Yes I do and they will always be somebody's child!