There is no definitive answer to the question of when someone stops being a child, as the transition from childhood to adulthood is a gradual process that varies from person to person. However, there are a few key factors that are commonly used to determine when childhood ends and adulthood begins:
Physical development – The onset of puberty typically marks the end of childhood for biological reasons. Girls usually begin puberty between the ages of 8 and 13, while for boys, puberty usually begins between ages 9 and 14.
Legal definitions – Legally, a person is considered an adult at the age of majority, which varies by country but is commonly 18 years old. At this point, a person is legally responsible for their actions and decisions.
Financial independence – When a person can financially support themselves without assistance from parents or guardians, they are often considered to have reached adulthood.
Completion of education – In many cultures, completing one’s education marks the passage into adulthood. This is often tied to high school graduation, around age 18.
Independent living – Moving out of one’s childhood home and living independently is a major milestone towards being an adult.
Marriage and parenthood – Getting married and having children of one’s own are very clear markers of adulthood across most cultures.
Subjective views – Individuals may feel they have reached adulthood when they have matured emotionally, gained life experience, and formed their own belief system and identity. This personal perspective plays a key role.
Physical Development
Puberty is the process of physical changes through which a child’s body matures into an adult body. It is initiated by hormonal signals from the brain to the gonads. In response, the sex glands produce a variety of hormones that stimulate growth, change body composition, and develop secondary sex characteristics. Here’s an overview of key changes:
Girls:
– Breast development begins, usually between ages 8 and 13.
– Growth spurt occurs, peaking around age 12.
– Menstruation and fertility begins, usually between ages 10 and 16.
– Hips widen, waist narrows, and body fat increases.
– Underarm, pubic and leg hair develops.
Boys:
– Testes and scrotum grow, around ages 9 to 14.
– Growth spurt occurs, peaking around age 14.
– Shoulders broaden, muscles develop.
– Facial hair, underarm hair, pubic hair develops.
– Voice deepens, around ages 12 to 15.
– Sperm production and ejaculation begins.
Though the timing varies, full maturation is generally complete by the late teen years. Thus, biological puberty signals the end of childhood as the body transitions into an adult form.
Legal Definitions
Legally, adulthood is reached at the age of majority, which is when a person acquires the rights and responsibilities of being an adult citizen. This varies by country:
| Country | Age of Majority |
| Australia | 18 |
| Canada | 18-19 |
| China | 18 |
| France | 18 |
| Germany | 18 |
| India | 18 |
| Japan | 20 |
| Russia | 18 |
| United Kingdom | 18 |
| United States | 18-21 |
At the age of majority, key rights gained include: voting, signing contracts, financial independence, right to give full legal consent, right to purchase restricted substances like alcohol, right to get married without parental consent, right to serve in the military, and being tried as an adult in court.
So in most countries, a person is legally considered an adult at 18 years old. This grants them autonomy and responsibility for themselves under the law.
Financial Independence
Becoming financially independent from parents or guardians is a major milestone towards adulthood. Supporting oneself financially means:
– Having a steady job or income stream.
– Paying for one’s housing, food, transportation, and other needs.
– Managing taxes, insurance, and other finances autonomously.
– Saving and investing money for long-term goals.
– Avoiding debt or managing loans and repayment responsibly.
For most people in developed nations, full financial independence is achieved in their 20s or 30s. While people may start working part-time jobs as teens, complete self-sufficiency often takes years of education, career development, budgeting skills and responsible money management.
Thus, gaining financial freedom marks the shedding of childhood dependence on parents for basic needs. It grants autonomy and control over one’s economic livelihood.
Completion of Education
Finishing one’s education, whether high school, vocational training, or university marks a major step towards adulthood. Educational completion indicates:
– Meeting standards of knowledge and skill mastery.
– Developing intellectual maturity.
– Gaining qualifications for desired careers.
– Recognized preparation for adult roles and responsibilities.
Typical education milestones include:
– High school graduation around age 18.
– Completion of vocational certificates or apprenticeships from late teens into 20s.
– College or university graduation from early 20s into mid-to-late 20s.
– Post-graduate degree completion like medical school or law school in late 20s to early 30s.
Ending this stage of intensive, structured learning signifies that a person has been equipped with knowledge and training to function competently in an adult world.
Independent Living
Leaving the dependency of the childhood home to live independently is a rite of passage into adulthood. Steps include:
– Getting one’s own apartment or house, often with roommates.
– Managing basic needs like housing, food, utilities on one’s own.
– Buying and caring for necessities like furniture, kitchenware, cleaning supplies.
– Paying bills and taxes, maintaining household budgeting.
– Home organization, cleaning, decorating based on personal taste.
– Hosting friends and family as a host rather than guest.
This transition usually happens between ages 18-30. Successfully running one’s own household is a major indicator of maturity and self-sufficiency.
Marriage and Parenthood
Two of the clearest markers of adulthood across most cultures are marriage and parenthood. These represent major life changes involving new responsibilities:
– Building a committed, intimate relationship as equals with a spouse.
– Making family planning decisions around reproduction.
– Providing stable home, emotional support, and resources for children.
– Modeling adult behaviors for children to learn from.
– Passing on values, knowledge, traditions to the next generation.
While timing varies greatly based on culture and individual choices, these roles undeniably signal a transition into responsible adulthood.
Subjective Views of Adulthood
While physical, legal, financial, and social milestones provide guidelines for the end of childhood, personal views also play an important role. An individual may feel they have reached adulthood when they:
– Develop greater emotional maturity and stability.
– Form a coherent sense of identity and purpose.
– Gain life experiences that provide wisdom and perspective.
– Feel confident in voicing opinions and asserting needs.
– Attain freedom in making life choices based on internal values.
– Feel in control of the direction of their life.
– Possess self-sufficiency in meeting life’s demands.
– Gain awareness of mortality and meaning of life.
This internal transition is highly subjective, often happening gradually over many years. But it marks a shift toward owning adulthood based on lived experience and self-actualization.
Conclusion
While childhood is a time of growth, protection and dependence, adulthood grants independence, responsibility and self-determination. The end of childhood is a process marked by physical changes of puberty, reaching the legal age of majority, completing education, financial self-sufficiency, establishing a household, marrying and having children. But the transition also involves a subjective inner transformation toward emotional maturity, self-awareness, and actualization of purpose that occurs gradually through lived experience. There is no definitive age when childhood ends – it is a personal journey guided by social milestones. But reaching adulthood is generally complete by one’s late 20s to early 30s.