How are the children in the ghost of Christmas past' robe 'mans child'?

The children represents Want (the girl) and Ignorance (the Boy). The levels of want in Britain of the tame were vast with many suffering death through the need of food, warmth and somewhere to live. The ignorance was aimed at those who had the money and power to make the changes. These two attitudes were of man own making. Man was ignorant to the those around them and the want was generated by those who could and did have power to relieve its levels