Children - Defination

Children

• A plural form of child, a human between the stages of birth and puberty [1]
• 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" [2]
• A person who has little or no experience in a particular area [3]
• Kanak-kanak (juga digelarkan budak atau anak kecil) ialah manusia yang muda, iaitu seorang yang masih belum mencapai baligh [4]
• In terms of biology & psychology: children are human being in the development phase of childhood, which is between infancy and adulthood [5]

Child Development

• Physical: Physical changes in the body; size, proportions, appearance, bodily system, physical health, perceptual and motor capabilities
• Cognitive: Changes in intellectual or thinking abilities, including memory, attention, daily knowledge, problem solving, imagination, creativity. Language and academic ability
• Emotional & Social: Changes in emotional and social relationship, including self-understanding, emotional communication, interpersonal skills, knowing people, intimate relationships and moral reasoning and behaviour.

5 Periods of Development

• Prenatal: The process embryo develops during pregnancy, from fertilisation until birth.
• Infancy & toddlerhood (from birth to 2 years): remarkable transformation to the brain and body that support intellectual, motor and perceptual abilities. (Sensorimotor – sense and act intentionally)
• Early childhood (2-6 years): body longer and thinner, self-controlled, fantasy play, language skills improved. (Preoperational – playing & pretending, but difficult in taking views from others)
• Middle childhood (6-11 years): primary school age, learn about real world, capabilities and responsibilities increased, self-understanding and friendship established. (Concrete operational)
• Adolescence (11-18 years): leads to adult-sized body and sexual maturity, thought more idealistic and abstract. (Formal operational)
• [6] [7]

Children As Users

• nEssential that technology is age appropriate.
• nDifferent motivation than adults. They generally use technology when they want to. Much more discretion.
• nExpect more from ordinary product. They believe that technology is magic. 
• High level of imagination
• nLearn quicker. Learn by playing. Play contribute to their learning and development.

References

1. Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child
2. “Convention on the Rights of the Child” The Policy Press, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
3. Oxford Dictionary online, http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/child#DWS-m-en_gb-msdict-00002%E2%80%93038550
4. Wikipedia Bahasa Melayu, http://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanak-kanak
5. Keenan, T. & Evans, S. (2009). An Introduction to child development. London, Sage Publications.
6. Berk, L. E. (2006). Child Development (7th Ed.). Boston, Pearson.
7. Piaget, J. (1962). Play, dreams, and limitation in childhood. New York, Norton.