Who thought that children were basically unformed adults?

The view that children are essentially unformed adults is often attributed to philosophers like john Locke, who proposed the concept of the "tabula rasa" or blank slate. This perspective suggests that children are not innately different from adults but rather develop through experiences and education. Additionally, this idea was prevalent in early modern thought, where children were seen as miniature versions of adults, lacking only in experience and knowledge. This contrasts with contemporary views that recognize distinct stages of child development.