"Small" children

pollyanna24

When do people stop referring to children as small? What I mean is when my ex left me, we had two small children as they were 2 and 0.

They are now 7 and 5 and although life is hard, they have gotten to ages where we can all have fun together (with the odd argument granted) and life is easier (no packing the entire house and pushchairs now for a day out), but am I still considered to have small children? When do they become "big" children?

Person_one

It seems to be that they are called 'small children' before they start school, then 'young children' until they become teenagers.

rach_k

Mine are the same age. I tend to think of them as young children now. I suppose they'll be older children or teenagers when they're in high school.

tea_lover

Small children implies pre school-age to me, and possibly reception year.... up to about 5.

fairy_lights

I think to be considered 'small' they need to be fairly portable, so once they can no longer be lifted with ease they become merely 'children'. Around the 4 stone mark maybe?

clairec79

I think 5 is the cusp (which means I won't have a small child in a month and I don't like that idea)

pollyanna24

fairy_lights wrote: »

I think to be considered 'small' they need to be fairly portable, so once they can no longer be lifted with ease they become merely 'children'. Around the 4 stone mark maybe?

4 stone? My almost 6 year old isn't even 3stone, so have a while yet then.

DigForVictory

I grade children using a rule of thumb taught me by a crusty vintage uncle.
Everyone younger than him is a mere child.
Those too young to conduct an interesting conversation with are mere babes.
I shot up in his estimation by asking in which category a particularly noisy & braying cousin was. The recent graduate was a mere babe.

When being introduced to strangers, anyone in Primary or below is probably a small child (unless they have yet smaller children themselves).

Portability varies hugely between children & parents. M'father refused to carry anyone weighing more than a Bren Gun (23 lb), whereas I would cheerfully heft seven year olds to reach tall shelves in the supermarket. I was taught to play (& carry) the cello however, which contributed to my perceptions of luggability.

sammyjammy

pollyanna24 wrote: »

4 stone? My almost 6 year old isn't even 3stone, so have a while yet then.

My great nephew was 2 yrs in March and weighs 2st 6lb already, he is very tal lthough, probably as tall as a 4 year old although I can't remember what one looks like

teddysmum

Some surveys ask if you have children, actually meaning school age (small) children, but others mean any offspring, long flown the nest.


My sons are in their thirties, but the answer to 'Do you have children?' is, 'Yes.'

sparkychris

When they can deliver perfect coffee to your bedside and retreat in silence.