There cannot be an old whale: children's understanding of old age

The objective of the current presentation was to explore how young children understand old age and the emotional and behavioural consequences it may bear. The participants, were 200 chldren, 4-6 to 6-0 years old, who were individually interviewed. Most children focused only on one external characteristic which was not sufficient as criteria of "old". The older children used more functional terms, stating primarily functions old people cannot do. Children did not consider their grandparents as old. Their understanding of old people was heavily affected by culturally mediated views.