ABSTRACT
What is a child? In most cases, the answer is that the child is an infant, a minor or an adolescent. A child is regarded as belonging to or even being the property of the family in many societies. During babyhood the family usually feels it has the duty to feed the child and care for him, to instruct him to a certain extent and to discipline him. Later the child is understood to have various duties, including going to school or assisting adults in the home. In some societies, adolescents are already treated as adults and are expected to work or even to serve in the army. Nevertheless, they are not self-supporting until they become full members of society on reaching their majority or through 'emancipation' by the family.
