Adulthood is the recognition of oneself and being responsible and accountable for one’s actions. It is the stage where one achieves freedom from the direct control of their parent from the former stage of childhood. Adulthood is characterized by completion of school, entry into labor force and exit from parental house and direct care. Childhood on the other hand is a stage in life when one is strictly bound under the care of their parent. One has little freedom of choice or decision making since most of these are handled by the parents. In the childhood phase, an individual is strictly supervised, have no sense of responsibility as the parent carry out all their responsibility (Reitman, et al. 23).Comparing the two phase of life therefore, offers significant differences and similarities that can be compared and contrasted by the use of thought, action and the general will of a person at a particular age. While there are some similarities between adulthood and childhood, the two are very different identity phases of human life. Thesis statement: the similarities and differences between the phases of adulthood and childhood.
Adulthood and childhood stages can be contrasted by their behavior and actions. In childhood, one is more compelled to act freely without being held responsible for what they do or in the manner by which they act. They take most of their times in learning how to interpret other people’s views and feelings when they are carrying out an action. On the other hand, adulthood is being aware of the world around you and being entirely controlled by thoughts and feelings of responsibility. One is compelled to act in the way that is morally and socially accepted by the society and take responsibility of their choice, decision and actions.
The society has bigger expectations from the adults, adulthood phase is embedded in a social expectation that is expected by the society and one is aware of the same. This expectation increases the pressure and the burden of responsibility is made heavier. This is because as one works hard to fulfill their personal needs and interests, the society is closely observing to see how one adheres to the norms and how they behave in the expected manner or otherwise, restrictions are imposed. Childhood is contrary to this because in the phase of childhood, individuals act on impulse and learn what is socially acceptable in the course of growth (Reitman, et al. 33). The knowledge they obtain about the socially accepted behaviors, norms and values develop in their adult life. Thereafter, the society expects them to conform to those values.
Children are provided with their need while adults work for them. In childhood, everything is provided by the parents and children have no obligation over anything. Most of their time is spent in learning about life. It could be learning how to associate, how to communicate and interact or on discovering how the world around them looks like. Their needs and requirements are met and provided for by the parents. They do not work and most of their time is spent playing or sleeping. Childhood is therefore spent on learning about the social structure, the surrounding and in acquiring skills and techniques on how to become a part of the dynamic society. Adulthood on its part is taking full control of one’s life; being responsible at home and at the workplace. It is the mastering the natural and social structure and being integrated to its functioning in such a way that one’s actions are morally upright and their behavior and decisions are aligned to the social expectations. It is working hard to satisfy one’s needs and achieve success by confirmative ways (Reitman, et al. 83).
There are limited similarities between adulthood and young hood. However, the most common factor in both groups it seems they have overwhelmed ability for being narrow-minded. Therefore their thoughts are known to controls their actions. This is more similar to that of young hood since their basic thoughts and instinctive thoughts in most cases are the same. Another similarity is that children still need friends who they could share their best and happiest moment with (Reitman, et al. 63). Therefore they put an effort to socialize in order to have friends. On the other hand, adults cannot leave along without friends as quoted no man is an island therefore they socialize just like children to make friends whom they can share ideas in problem solving.
Adulthood and childhood phases learn new things from social interaction and observation. Next, from point of view children always learn new things about their friends and about others or they can learn things new about themselves while this is applicable to the adults who too often learn new things about themselves or about others. These are key values that help people to live with each other. In certainty adults and children have many similarities. They learn how to control them and they can train themselves differences ways of controlling themselves. Similar thoughts may produce different actions time will come in which children will grow and learn what is really expected of them. They have dreams that project how they would wish to shape their future life. Children will have dreams just like adults that will help them to maneuver as they reach their ambitions and desires after being pushed by the environmental factors and the society as whole. Therefore what thoughts they will make ultimately as a decision, what they learned as a child and what they opt to recall when they are adult will shape them into the human they want to be, regardless of defined as adult or children (Reitman, et al. 87). They will have their own thoughts, their own actions, and their personality will drift them through their life which will be only unique to them. They might be creative in a similar way and do things with passion.
In adult and children actions that are formed from thoughts may be surprisingly similar or drastically different. But what is most unique and similar is the ability to do what they desire with reasons they wish. Therefore the idea of doing what praises someone is known as the will is a person which is very strong in both children and adult in various ways. However some criticizes this will as focus will of adults versus the natural will in children but is all the same. Both adult and children take care of themselves mostly to their bodies for instance mechanical injuries (Reitman, et al. 23). In children they cry after getting an injury while in adults they seek medical attentions.
In conclusion adults are defined by the norms and values of the society, environment and individuals of the society. The experience the children obtain and accumulate while growing olds make the most important distinct of how they will be when they will be adults. It is understandable that children grow up to become to become diverse adults reflecting on their errors and trials which later turned to be their experience. However, these make tremendous change between adults and children which is referred as tolerance of desire and responsibility resulting to their actions.
Works Cited
Reitman, Jason, Lianne Halfon, Russell Smith, Diablo Cody, Charlize Theron, Patton Oswalt, Elizabeth Reaser, Patrick Wilson, and Rolfe Kent. Young Adult. Hollywood, Calif N.p., n.d. Print.
