Childhood

A Synth's childhood is, much like the childhood experienced by organics, the period of time between birth and adulthood during which a large part of an individual's personality and skills are developed. Synths do not reproduce sexually and therefore don't need to give birth to children in the same way organics do. However, since it is of high importance that Synths and organics have similar life experiences, their childhoods are also designed to be similar. The best way to further empathy and understanding between organics and synthetics is for both of them to grow up together.

"Conception"

Since Synths don't reproduce sexually, there is no need for conception, pregnancy or birth in the traditional sense. Instead the term conception in relation to Synths is typically used to describe the time during which one or two Synths (or organics) discover that they would like to raise a Synth child. Even though there is no genetic connection between the parent(s) and the child, they are still considered the child's "parents", since they agree to play a parental role in a child's life. The first step into parenthood is a bureaucratic one: One or two parents need to apply for a free parenting slot at a local administrative office. This has to do with the historically limited amount of resources available in the Outer Rim and the fact that its entire society evolved out of the effects of population numbers being out of control. Due to the high life expectency throughout the Outer Rim, it is relatively rare that old people die and make room for young people, so the number of yearly births had to be limited historically to not overburden the Outer Rim's originally sparse resources. During times of starvation the last thing a society can take is more mouths to feed. In recent years this limitation on the number of permitted births has come under criticism and scrutiny, since the Outer Rim entered a period of plenty during which there has been no more need to worry about sparse resources. This leads to applications for paenting slots being approved almost immediately, making this particular rule seem outdated and unnecessary. Debates about legal reforms are ongoing. More information about this can be found in the History of the Outer Rim. Once an application for a parenting slot has been approved, production of a new Synth goes underway.