Childhood starts at birth (or at pregnancy) and ends at age 18 (or even later when full biological and developmental aspects are considered). The effects of policy interventions at any given point during childhood may fade or be reinforced at a later age as they depend critically on the alignment of other policy interventions or combinations of social policies after the early years. This alignment of policy interventions is what scholars refer to as the "transformative character of social (protection) policy". It concentrates attention on the fact that single instruments seldom suffice to realise the broader intentions of the CRC.