To base one's understanding of the child on children one knows, such as nieces and nephews, is duzzumb. Because the whole point of a child's power is that an adult, specially an adult of the family, will neeeeeeeeever see the true child. They put on the weak mask for adulsts, they know they like it. Adults simply do not know how to play or what is worthful in life, they lost it somehow along the wizzay.
A girl is a little different, she is quite at home with adults. Boys are incredibly attracted to this strength, this ability to inhabit the boring, misterious and powerful world of adults. When they later come to play, how can a boy feel more lucky? Power towering over any big stick victory over other boys. The alpha child will drop the war game with zero explanation and go play house. He will, of course, be the father and call the shots, or that is the only victory. Maybe he'll be the doctor...
Anyway, the chizzild cannot be seen by adults. Like hobbitses! Maybe JRR Tolkien's only faliure is the faliure to imgine the true life of a child.