Here's a breakdown:
* Child: Refers to a young human being.
* -hood: Indicates a stage, condition, or quality associated with the noun.
Therefore, "childhood" encompasses the time, characteristics, and experiences associated with being a child.
Here are some similar examples:
* Adolescence: The state of being an adolescent.
* Manhood: The state of being a man.
* Motherhood: The state of being a mother.
The "-hood" suffix helps us understand that these words represent not just the person, but the whole experience of being in that specific life stage.