What is the commonly accepted age range for childhood?

The commonly accepted age range for childhood actually extends from about 18 months until the onset of adolescence, usually recognized around the ages of 11 to 13 years. This period is characterized by significant growth and development across multiple domains, including physical, emotional, cognitive, and social aspects. During this time, children acquire fundamental skills and knowledge that serve as a foundation for their later development.

The other age ranges mentioned do not encompass the full span of childhood as it is typically defined in developmental psychology. For instance, the time frame that begins at birth and extends only to 5 years captures early childhood, which is an essential period but does not include later childhood stages. Similarly, the defined ranges of 1 year to 10 years and 3 years to adolescence do not fully align with the commonly accepted definition, as they either start too late or end too early to appropriately capture the entirety of childhood development.