Is there a word that means the period of time it takes to raise a child from birth until they leave?  It has been suggested that this word is also applicable to animals.
Helping a friend out.  It has got me beat. ???

I checked ‘rearing’, but it appears that the term does not intend to define that complete range.

-Tim

Thanks Tim, I had thought of "rearing" too, but that does not really fit due to the indeterminate age of leaving the "nest".

Rearing should be just right. After all, once reared young are, theoretically at least, supposed to be ready to "take flight." The fact that human young hang around much longer than necessary is probably due to the artificial structures of various human societies. OTOH, leaving is not necessarily the goal, but rather taking an adult role, instead of a child role, is.

Patricia/AgDrgn

LOL… Katy, you’ve given me a nice segue into what I was going to say earlier.  And you’re probably more familiar with this than I am.

There are evidently three phases to what the general public refers to as dog breeding: breeding, whelping, and rearing.

http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/medical/whelping.html

-Tim

the period of time it takes to raise a child from birth until they leave

Around here (Texas) people use "raise" to cover this whole period.
As in "Yer raised, kid. Git out."

In some cases, the raising period can last until the thug or thugess turn 35 or so.  ;D

The GenX generation is becoming known as the "Boomerang" generation. You keep throwing them out; they keep coming back.

;D

"...the period of time it takes to raise a child from birth until they leave?"

They leave?   For good?  I only have two and both have "left" several times.  I even tried moving, but they found me.

I even tried moving

You mean that didn’t work either? Darn. There goes Plan B.  ;D

Be nice to your kids—they’ll be choosing your retirement home.  

Mine have promised to take good care of us when they make it big in the movies and in screenwriting, respectively.  I’m also waiting for that big Lottery payout through the pool at work . . .

Eligible to retire in three years; able to afford it in fifteen or twenty . . .   ::)

How about fledging?
This implies they’re ready to fly, even if they won’t go!

[quote author=John_from_Coffs link=board=what;num=1046953907;start=0#0 date=03/06/03 at 07:31:46]Is there a word that means the period of time it takes to raise a child from birth until they leave?  . . .

An eternity.

I even tried moving, but they found me.

;D

My point exactly. I guess the answer to the original question is: until they leave the first time, or until they leave the eighth time?  ;)

- PW