Would you say a 16-17 year old girl is still a child?

Question

Lliam · Accepted Answer

It depends on the individual.

Some 16-17 year olds have jobs as well as school, and have quite a bit of life experience. They have decent common sense, can make decisions and survive on their own.

Some 16-17 year olds are still mentally immature, dependent and naive.

By that age, most people have passed puberty and become physically mature.

My first girlfriend was 14 when I was 16. She was certainly physically mature and she was wiser and more mentally mature than I.

My second girlfriend was 16 when I was 18. She had her own apartment while I still lived with my parents.

A teen ager certainly isn't grown up. They are just beginning. But we spend our entire lives growing up. It never ends. I still learn and improve every day.

So I don't see any reason why a person of 14, 16 or 18 shouldn't begin the process. It's better than waiting until they are older. The more experience a person has, the more knowledge they gain, and the wiser they become.

If people are afraid that teens will make mistakes, they should remember that we all make mistakes throughout life. We learn from our mistakes. If we don't make mistakes, we don't grow.

“Learning by making mistakes and not duplicating them is what life is about.”

“If you have the guts to keep making mistakes, your wisdom and intelligence leap forward with huge momentum.”

“Mistakes are part of the dues one pays for a full life.”

Effably · Accepted Answer

Honestly I think we're all kids until we start waking up with back-pain. That's about when we become real adults to me.

Of course in reality it is about your experience. I know of people, granted not in my generation, who sailed the world at 15. Worked in harbour to harbour, their own finances, troubles, apartments and so on. Guy nearly married at 16! He grew up fast because he had to. And he also has the privilege, or misfortune, where growing up fast and maintaining a normal life were both possible. As exciting as leaving everything for a year or two, travel around and working a few days here and there to get by sounds it also isn't realistic anymore.

I think a 16-17 year old girl is old enough to make, most, if her mistakes on her own. Not yet old enough to know what those mistakes will be.

TrueConfection · Accepted Answer

Ah, the teenage years. Those are the hardest because a teen is no longer a child and they are still not an adult.

I always told my own kids that although we say 18 is a legal adult age, you're not a child one day and then wake up as an adult on your 18th birthday. It takes practice. LOTS of practice.

Teenage years are a time of preparation and 18 is when you finally get to practice some of those things you learned. More like an adult in training.

sage2021 · Accepted Answer

Not really. It all depends on if the girl is unmature or mature for her age.
At 16 I was working, going to school, driving my car, and had a full-time boyfriend. So I think I was pretty mature and surely not a kid!

Leapfrog00 · Answer

Depends on the level of maturity. When I was 16, I pretty much took care of myself. When I was in foster care, the teenagers were considered young adults.

If a 16 or 17-year-old girl can make herself dinner, balance a checkbook, and put on make-up, Id say she's definitely not a child and more of a young adult.

Society has all these labels and people are brought up to believe whatever people tell them. In some countries, when a girl turns 16, she's already an adult. Some even marry at that age. There are so many countries that have different beliefs.

But I'd say, depends on the maturity and if the 16 or 17 year girl can take care of herself.

jshm2 · Answer

Depends.

Some 16 years olds can drink, join the army, and kill; while others can barely use the toilet.

It's a bit dubious to pin all human physical and mental development onto an age number, as if people are plants.

People develop at different ages and times.

lightbulb27 · Answer

yes unless they take responsibility for all their actions, and life. Id refer to them as a young adult so they start thinking that way, but they are usually very immature albeit, they want control and think they know a lot. Their brain is still forming well into 20's.

Berethor · Answer

For jokes purpose sure, but I don't really think so, and the age of consent where I live is 16.

AaronKrieger · Answer

Yes, anyone that age are kids still, and I think even most people my age are despite being legal adults. We have A LOT of life to experience still to help mature us and learn from our mistakes.

HippieVeganJewslim · Answer

No. 16-year-olds had already hit puberty. Sirius was right about His 15-year-old godson Harry: he wasn’t a child. 16 is old enough to get a job, work, study the real stuff, marry, and I think even join the military. You don’t usually see kids doing those things!

Avicenna · Answer

Having taught a lot of students that age, I'd say there is clearly a big difference in maturity between them and children (even younger teenagers) to the extent that you can't call them children anymore, but they definitely are not adults. Teenagers are in a category of their own.

JustinTheGreat · Answer

Yes

i know when you’re a teen you don’t feel like you’re a child. I remember being that age and thinking “well I’m 18 in a couple years, I’m basically an adult. I can make my own decisions.” everyone thinks they know everything at that age.

but you have so much more growing and maturing to do. And so much more to learn about life.

HighValue · Answer

Depends on her mental and emotional maturity. It varies. From what I have seen IRL, the majority of women from 16 to 40 have the same maturity. Not all, but the majority.

andreasderjuengere · Answer

No, I would not. I see this age as kind of ''adult-in-preparation''; not yet finished, but in an advanced -erm- production state :) ''Adolescent'' is a relatively good term for it?

Ms_Facesitter · Answer

Somewhere in between. I've seen 17 year olds who were more mature than adults and I've seen 17 year olds who you can't leave out of sight for a second.

BeMuse · Answer

Legally they are children until 18. Often they are treated as young adults to encourage them to take on more adult roles. Mentally most people don't really start acting like adults until they're 25+.

OfMiceandMen · Answer

I consider them to be a young adult at that age, not a child. A child does not absolutely know right from wrong. I believe a 16-17 year old does know right from wrong. That being said, there is great responsibility being an adult.

BoopBoopBeep · Answer

Yes. Can't vote, can't enlist, can't buy a firearm, can't get a real job, isn't psychologically developed, has few if any adult life experiences (paying taxes, getting a mortgage, rental application etc)

Anonymous · Answer

Strictly, no but it mostly depends on emotional maturity and practical independence.

I'll call my 16yo out for being a child when she behaves like one but I'm really looking for her to behave more like an adult.

It's a transitionary period.

Anonymous · Answer

Of course! My mum wants to leave my 17-year-old sister to go live in another country with her online boyfriend and my sister can't legally live on her own nor does she feel mature enough to.

Anonymous · Answer

Not a child, but definitely a minor. Girls 16-17 are becoming adults. But same as young men 16-17 they still will make childish decisions. This is why we protect underage. Because they can't be expected to act as adults completely yet, no matter how mature they appear.

Agape93 · Answer

Yeap. Anyone under 18 is a minor, a child. I know they're not actually children, but I still see them as kids.

BCA6010 · Answer

It is exceedingly rare that I meet a teenager who acts or thinks like an adult, and even when there are exceptions, they are still legally minors.

siseñor · Answer

yeah, you are a minor and should be treated as such

Siri137 · Answer

No, of course not. That's a teenager, the stage between childhood and adulthood.

Quackthulu2 · Answer

Most 20-25 year old people are still children.

4ngelic · Answer

your not a kid kid but you're not even close to being a real adult yet

Pudsmucker · Answer

Oh yes, she is still a child in my eyes. More immaturity in making decisions. I do know that my grandmother was married at age 16. That was a different time.

FilmGuy93 · Answer

I would say that, yes. Girls that age are under the age of legal majority, so it's not even a question.  I've also seen 40 year old women I would consider emotional children though.

Curious_teen07 · Answer

Depends on her maturity levels. How does she react to problems, her emotional and mental capability etc.

EricSummer · Answer

No, she's an adolescent. However, if child and adult are the only choices then she is a child socially, but usually a young adult biologically.

Nikki1989 · Answer

Generally speaking I see everyone up to the age of 21 as children, big children yes but still childlike is many respects.

OfDeath · Answer

Legally yes. Physically usually not. But by human life expectancy standards, that is very young. The transition between childhood and adulthood. Time to let ones hair down and find themselves a bit but also to think about getting serious about life.

Anonymous · Answer

To a lot of older adults and elderly people you would be seen as a child in their eyes. Most young adults would see you as just a teenager.

Anemone978 · Answer

They are a teenagers.. and stupid.. yes... not an adult lol

Whatthefluff · Answer

Yes I’d say so. They’re still a minor and have a lot to learn about life.

slatyb · Answer

I wouldn't. She's a young woman, although still a minor in most jurisdictions.

Sparkie460 · Answer

No not a child but not an adult yet. More like a pre adult.

Googlemyahoo · Answer

Depends on life experience no 16-17 year old is the same.

Anonymous · Answer

definitely not a child but some people just call everyone that until they're in their 20's anyway

es20490446e · Answer

She's a mixture of an adult and a child. She usually acts quite child-like.

najekim · Answer

It depends on how they act, how intelligent they seem to be, and how they carry themselves.

SunnyRS · Answer

It's still young but it depends on their behavior whether I would consider them a child or not.

driven159 · Answer

yes but some 16 year olds are more grown up than adults

ItsZaman · Answer

No. not at all she gained her puberty before 16-17. so how can we consider her a child?

Miristheiss · Answer

No.  They are a young adult.

Anonymous · Answer

Well yes she is but I would use the term "kid" instead of "child"

boggboss · Answer

Not a child no but then again not a adult

Blackcupcake · Answer

a child? no… a teen is a better fit

FunkyMonkee · Answer

According to some state laws, yes.

ImalwaysrightOK · Answer

Yes. Teenager, but still immature.

BrookeS · Answer

Depends, what did she do?

Hispanic-Cool-Guy · Answer

No. Children are 12 and under.

Rizzlekicked · Answer

Yes I would say she is

In_Trance · Answer

generally speaking, yes

Summeroflove · Answer

No. Teenager

riverrat3 · Answer

Under legal age, but not a child

MementoMori777 · Answer

A teen

KostasKouvalis · Answer

Teenager or Ladygirl

Anonymous · Answer

No.. How her brain work says how old is she

Anonymous · Answer

Anyone under 18

AmeerX · Answer

Nope, teenager

gorydetails · Answer

Yes.

Vegasrunner · Answer

Yes.

Would you say a 16-17 year old girl is still a child?

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