Childhood
The childhood of a Sederan is not measured in years but rather 'Ages' that span multiple years. Note that these are guidelines only, and to help paint a picture of what Sederan childhood is like at each age.
The Age of Innocence (0-7)
A young child is seen as a gift from the Maiden Dragon, and their innocence must be protected. They are to be kept as unburdened by daily life as possible, and are given no real responsiblities.
Noble Youngsters
Noble clans generally raise their children together in a large, communal nursery full of cousins and siblings, watched over by several carefully-selected nannies. Noble youngsters will spend most of their time in the Day Nursery (their playroom) and Night Nursery (their sleeproom), and will only be cleaned up and trotted out to visit parents and older family once a day in the midafternoon.
Some parents may be more doting than others, but generally spending a few hours a week with your child, and remembering to send them a trinket or two from your journeys is seen as perfectly acceptable noble parenting. In fact, to be too clingy or overbearing with your children is seen as somewhat gauche.
Gentry Youngsters
Children of the gentry are raised similarly to those of the nobility, but with far less structure. Often clans of the gentry will combine their children into a common nursery, and will hire a nanny and a night nurse to watch over them, but they are not confined to their playrooms and will usually spend much of their days playing amongst the older members of the clan.
Commoner Youngsters
Commoner children have far less structure. Nannies are usually beyond the means of most commoner clans, who choose instead to follow the 'it takes a village' mentality -- children run wild and free amongst their clans and neighbours, with everyone keeping a watchful eye on them.
The Age of Reason (7-14)
In a child's seventh summer, they are considered to now be old enough to understand reason, and are expected to start finding their way in the world. More obligations are put on them, and they begin to contribute back to the larger community.
At age 7, a child can join the Knighthood as a Page, or join a Draganic Order as a Benevolence.
Noble Children
Noble children see the greatest change: they graduate out of the nursery and get their own room, usually sharing with a few siblings or cousins of the same age and gender. There is no more nanny, but rather they are watched by their highly-trained governess and taught by a series of tutors in a wide variety of skills and knowledge.
They will begin accompanying their parents on simple matters of the Realm, and will occasionally be permitted to join the rest of the Clan at their formal dinner. At this age, many noble children will also go to live with other noble clans in a system of Fostering, in order to strengthen ties, as well as ensure a broader education for the child.
Gentry Children
Most members of the Gentry can afford to send their children to the village school, if they live nearby, or else employ tutors to visit their estates. They may start helping out in small ways with the family business or professional practice.
Commoner Children
At this age, Commoner children may be sent to school, if their clan can afford it, or they will at least start to receive basic instruction from the older clan members -- most Commoners want to ensure their children can at least read and write, and do simple sums.
Commoner children at this age will usually also start taking on small jobs: they may be sent into service as a boot boy or kitchen girl, or they might run errands for coins or find some work sweeping up in a shop. And for those children whose parents work a plot of land, this is the age at which they are expected to start working in the fields.
The Age of Becoming (14-21)
At this age, children are seen as capable and fully-formed, but are still in need of some final polishes to be full members of society.
Those in the Knighthood may progress to Squires, while those with Draganic Orders become Radiates.
Noble Teenagers
Noble children will continue with their tutors, but no longer have a governess. They get their own chambers, if the clan has space, and are seen as being entitled to privacy. When not in lessons, they otherwise join the clan, and will dine with them regularly. They will accompany their parents on more important matters of the estate.
They may start attending the beginning parts of balls, and will be encouraged to travel and spend some time at one or more Royal Court. They may become ladies- or gentlemen-in-waiting of higher-ranking, older nobility.
Gentry Teenagers
At this age, children of the Gentry may go on to the Colleges or begin an Apprenticeship. If the clan owns a business, the children may be involved in its daily operation and begin carrying out duties on the clan's behalf.
Commoner Teenagers
At this age, Commoner Children are expected to start fully contributing to their households. This is usually their last chance to enter service, or they will otherwise find work or an Apprenticeship. Children of serfs and farmers will work full-time on the land.
The Age of Adulthood (21+)
At the beginning of spring in one's 21st year, all Sederan citizens are considered legal adults and are entitled to all rights and responsibilities that entails.
Noble Young Adults
At age 21, Sederan Nobles debut at their first Gadabout season.
Gentry Young Adults
At 21 one will generally graduate from a college or move from Apprentice to Journeyman. If their parents run a business, they will usually take on a full-time job with higher responsibilities.
Commoner Young Adults
At 21, you're an adult. Get a job. Get a spouse. Have some kids. You're fully-cooked and expected to do your own thing.