Biologically, a child (plural: children) is generally a human between the stages of birth and puberty. Some vernacular definitions of a child include the fetus, as being an unborn child. The legal definition of "child" generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger than the age of majority. "Child" may also describe a relationship with a parent or authority figure, or signify group membership in a clan, tribe, or religion; it can also signify being strongly affected by a specific time, place, or circumstance, as in "a child of nature" or "a child of the Sixties".

Legal, biological, and social definitions

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child defines a child as "a human being below the age of 18 years unless under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier". Ratified by 192 of 194 member countries. Some English definitions of the word 'child' include the fetus and the unborn. Biologically, a child is anyone between birth and puberty or in the developmental stage of childhood, between infancy and adulthood. Children generally have fewer rights than adults and are classed as not able to make serious decisions, and legally must always be under the care of a responsible adult.

As a non-adult

Recognition of childhood as a state different from adulthood began to emerge in the 16th and 17th centuries. Society began to relate to the child not as a miniature adult but as a person of a lower level of maturity needing adult protection, love and nurturing. This change can be traced in painting: In the Middle Ages, children were portrayed in art as miniature adults with no childish characteristics. In the 16th century, images of children began to acquire a distinct childish appearance. From the late 17th century onwards, children were shown playing. Toys and literature for children also began to develop at this time.

Attitudes toward children

Social attitudes toward children differ around the world in various cultures. These attitudes have changed over time. A 1988 study on European attitudes toward the centrality of children found that Italy was more child-centric and Holland less child-centric, with other countries, such as Austria, Great Britain, Ireland and West Germany falling in between.

Socialization

All children go through stages of social development. An infant or very young child will play alone happily. If another child wanders onto the scene, he or she may be physically attacked or pushed out of the way. Next, the child is able to play with another child, gradually learning to share and take turns. Eventually the group grows larger, to three or four children. By the time a child enters kindergarten, he or she is usually able to join in and enjoy group experiences.

Children with ADHD and learning disabilities may need extra help in developing social skills. The impulsive characteristics of an ADHD child may lead to poor peer relationships. Children with poor attention spans may not tune in to social cues in their environment, making it difficult for them to learn social skills through experience.

Age of responsibility

The age at which children are considered responsible for their own actions (e.g., marriage, voting, etc.) has also changed over time, and this is reflected in the way they are treated in courts of law. In Roman times, children were regarded as not culpable for crimes, a position later adopted by the Church. In the nineteenth century, children younger than seven years old were believed incapable of crime. Children from the age of seven forward were considered responsible for their actions. Therefore, they could face criminal charges, be sent to adult prison, and be punished like adults by whipping, branding or hanging. Today, in many countries like Canada and the United States, children twelve and older are held responsible for their actions and may be sent to special correctional institutions, such as juvenile hall.

Surveys have found that at least 25 countries around the world have no specified age for compulsory education. Minimum employment age and marriage age also vary. In at least 125 countries, children aged 7–15 may be taken to court and risk imprisonment for criminal acts. In some countries, children are legally obliged to go to school until they are 14 or 15 years old, but may also work before that age. A child's right to education is threatened by early marriage, child labour and imprisonment.

Child mortality

According to population health experts, child mortality rates have fallen sharply since the 1990s. Deaths of children under the age of five are down by 42% in the United States, while Serbia and Malaysia have cut their rates by nearly 70%.

One child policy

:''See also: Two-child policy'' China's ''one-child policy'' forces some couples to have no more than one child. China's population policy has been credited with a very significant slowing of China's population growth which had been higher before the policy was implemented. It has come under criticism that the implementation of the policy has involved forced abortions and forced sterilization. However, while the punishment of "unplanned" pregnancy is a fine, both forced abortion and forced sterilization can be charged with intentional assault, which is punished with up to 10 years' imprisonment. If born with another child and kept, parents must pay a large fine for every day he/she is alive.

See also

Child sexual abuse

Index of youth articles

Outline of children

References

External links

Wikichild.org

Category:Childhood Category:Developmental psychology Category:Humans

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Coordinates	°′″N°′″N
name	Robert Miles
background	non_performing_personnel
birth name	Roberto Concina
alias	Robert Miles, Roberto Milani
birth date	November 03, 1969
ethnicity	Italian
genre	Electronica, alternative, dance, ambient, chill-out, nu jazz, pop
occupation	Composer, record producer, musician, DJ
years active	1984–present
label	S:alt Records [suitably:alternative]
website	http://www.robert-miles.com
notable instruments	}}

Robert Miles (born Roberto Concina, November 3, 1969, Fleurier) is an Italian record producer, composer, musician and DJ in electronica and alternative music.

Biography

Robert Miles was born to Italian immigrants Antonietta Lauro and Albino Concina in Fleurier, Switzerland.

Miles became proficient at playing the piano during his youth in Friuli, Italy, in the small town of Fagagna, where his family moved when he was still a young boy, and has been in the music scene since 1984. He worked as DJ in some Italian clubs and private radio networks and in 1990, he used his savings to establish his own recording studio and a pirate radio station.

In 1994, Miles wrote a house/chill-out piece based on acoustic guitar chords and soft synthesizer effects, "Children", which was later developed into a dream trance track featuring a piano theme on top. The single picked up sales slowly, but within two weeks of its official release in 1995, it had sold more than 350,000 copies all over Europe and topped the charts in many countries. By 1997, "Children" had sold more than 5,000,000 copies worldwide. It earned Miles platinum records in many countries. Also, Robert Miles is the only Italian artist to have won a Brit Award (Best International Male Newcomer 1997).

Miles' next single was "Fable". Part of this song was used in the theatrical trailer for the U.S. movie ''Ever After'' starring Drew Barrymore and Dougray Scott. His debut album ''Dreamland'' was released on June 7, 1996 in Europe, and released in the United States about a month later, with a new track, "One and One". This new track became very popular (it reached number 1 in the Euro Chart during the Christmas period) and was later released as a single in Europe and the U.S.

In November 1997, Miles released another track, "Freedom", which was one of the key tracks on his second album ''23am'' featuring vocals provided by Kathy Sledge of Sister Sledge. Containing a different feel from the previously more club-oriented ''Dreamland'', ''23am'' incorporated more lyrics-driven songs than its predecessor while maintaining Miles' trademark piano sound from the first album.

Miles remained under the radar until June 11, 2001, when, after splitting from BMG/Deconstruction and his management he set up his own independent record label S:alt Records (with S:alt being short for suitably:alternative) and released his third album, ''Organik'', featuring the new single "Paths" with vocals provided by Nina Miranda of Smoke City. Guests on the album included Trilok Gurtu, Bill Laswell and Nitin Sawhney. Music from ''Organik'' was used on various movie soundtracks such as ''The Bourne Identity'', ''Derrida'', and ''City of Ghosts''. In 2002, an album containing mainly remixes of songs found on ''Organik'' was released. The album, appropriately entitled ''Organik Remixes'', contained remixes by the winners of the remixing contest held on Robert Miles' website, as well as remixes from well known artists such as The Future Sound of London, Riton, and Alexkid amongst others. The album also had one new track, "Bhairav", which featured the vocals of Amelia Cuni.

In 2004, Miles released ''Miles_Gurtu'', his fourth album which was a collaboration with percussionist Trilok Gurtu. Also guesting on the album were Nitin Sawhney, John Thorne, Mike Patto and Paul Falloon.

His fifth album entitled ''Th1rt3en'' was released worldwide on S:alt Records in February 2011, and featured guests such as Robert Fripp, Dave Okumu, John Thorne, Mike Patto and Davide Giovannini. For this album, Miles produced a blend of alternative and progressive rock with ambient and electronic soundscapes.

Robert Miles has sold more than 14,000,000 records and his music has been used in more than 250 movies, video games and adverts worldwide.

Selected discography

Studio albums

1996: ''Dreamland''

1997: ''23am''

2001: ''Organik''

2004: ''Miles_Gurtu''

2011: ''Th1rt3en''

Singles

;Robert Miles

1995: "Soundtracks EP"

1995: "Red Zone"

1995: "Children" (UK #2, U.S. #21)

1996: "Fable" (with Fiorella Quinn) (UK #7)

1996: "One & One" (with Maria Nayler) (UK #3, U.S. #54)

1997: "Freedom" (with Kathy Sledge)

1998: "Full Moon"

1998: "Everyday Life"

2001: "Paths" (with Nina Miranda) (UK #74)

2002: "Improvisations: Part 2"

2002: "Connections/Separations"

2002: "Pour Te Parler (Remixes)"

2011: "Miniature World"

;Roberto Milani

1994: "Ghost"

1994: "Oxygen EP Vol. 1"

Remix albums

1997: ''In the Mix''

1997: ''Renaissance Worldwide — London'' (with Dave Seaman)

2002: ''Organik Remixes''

2011: ''Th1rt3en Remixes''

See also

List of number-one dance hits (United States)

List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart

References

External links

Official Robert Miles website

Category:1969 births Category:Living people Category:People from Neuchâtel (city) Category:Electronic musicians Category:Trance musicians Category:Swiss DJs Category:Swiss artists Category:Swiss-Italian people Category:BRIT Award winners Category:Swiss people of Italian descent

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