Yes, of course you are right. I am more talking about what makes the children themselves act how they do. Their parents or loved ones may be threatened with harm or incarceration and they children’s love for their parents or whoever keeps tem silent and compliant. Their love is exploited. That’s the point I’m trying to make. We are both right, I think.
These characters are hardly "children" any more, they're young adults. (the threat - your parents could be in a lot of trouble if people find out what we're doing, so just act the part like it was drama class)
Calling them children is just...wrong. Control the language, don't let it control you.
Again, JMO.