Age

A person or people group’s age does not define them; however, age has personal and external implications. A person’s age can determine if they can drink alcohol or vote. A child who is 12 years old or younger can order off of the children’s menu. An 80-year-old likely has more health problems than a person who is 32.

Age isn’t a surefire way to determine physical fitness, nor does it accurately represent a person’s maturity level. Sweeping generalizations should not be based on age. However, combining a person’s age with other factors can create a clearer picture of their identity and how they relate to the world around them.

• A girl who is 13-years-old.

Surveys, interviews, and other straightforward methods can be used to learn a person’s age. Special care should be taken when asking questions about age. Some people can feel uncomfortable sharing their age with others. Researching age can reveal the role age plays in different cultures.

Questions to Ask

• What is the person’s age?
• What is their stage of life?
• What are common concerns when someone is in this stage of life?
• What age was this person when they started (doing something)?

Look For

• Activities a person does that are age-specific.