Here is the best advice I can give you;
No, I’m not going to care about your character simply because they are a child. Being a man, woman, child, human, animal, alien, has nothing to do with the level of care I will give your character. I need to know who they are.
So many books and movies just pull out the ‘Oh, a child then’ trope if they need us to care about someone but are unsure of how to make any of their characters likable or don’t think they have time too. So, suddenly there’s a precious star-child, savior baby or a little girl with super powers. This is especially common in escort style stories where children are treated like precious cargo/objects, instead of human beings.
You ever wonder why everyone groans when a child character is introduced? This is why. Because we are suddenly given something useless that must be protected at all costs. No one likes that in a character; but we can’t complain about it because it’s a child. Well, I can.
Here are some things that might help.
Children have varying personalities.
Children have goals; hopes and dreams, sometimes impossible.
Children have views on their situation & how others see them.
Children can be manipulative and selfish.
It’s okay for adults to be frustrated and annoyed around them.
Children offer perspectives adults might not have thought of.
Children have bad habits that could be annoying, lower morale or put people in danger.
Children can be useful. They can help, and they can learn.
Children usually like to be around other children more than adults.
Children like any perceived power or favoritism as we all like something we rarely experience.
Children want to have fun. What fun is might vary.
It’s okay for adults and children to be friends.
Children and adults can learn from one another. It’s not one sided.
It’s okay for bad things to happen to your child characters.
Shy children still have views; and express them creatively.
Children don’t ‘innately like good guys’ and ‘innately fear/hate bad guys’.
Children are not magical creatures. They are humans. (Unless of course they are a magical creature in your world.)
Children can have senses of humor.
Children can have mental disorders.
Children turn into pubescent adults; and suddenly; hormones. It;s normal.
A lot of children are aware of darker themes.
Not everyone is going to like the child because it is a child.
Especially not every woman.
Children need to develop as characters. They do so faster than adults.
Some really good examples of children written well are Lyra, from Northern Lights and Ellie from The Last of Us. Northern Lights is fairly vague in it’s audience and has been read by children and adults; but The Last of Us is aimed at adults, and still gives Ellie a great character. She is allowed to explore her sexuality, her ‘purpose’, have a blunt personality and swear in people’s faces. While Lyra is smart, curious and daring. She uses her cunning to fight her battles. I really loved her as a child and as an adult.
So there are some ideas! And I wish you very good luck!
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