Fertility rates have fallen dramatically around the world. In some countries, there are no longer enough children being born to replace adult populations. The disappearance of children is a matter of concern matched only by fears that childhood is becoming too structured or not structured enough, too short or too long, or just simply too different…

This report of the Canadian Institute of Child Health (CICH) is the third to document indicators of the health and well-being of children and youth in Canada. The report is presented in 10 chapters. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the demographic situation in Canada and introduces the key areas. Chapters 2-5 profile successive stages in child…