Previous research has quantified differences in head and spinal kinematics between children and adults restrained in an automotive-like configuration subjected to low speed dynamic loading. The forces and moments that the cervical spine imposes on the head contribute directly to these age-based kinematic variations. To provide further explanation of the kinematic results, this study compared the upper neck kinetics – including the relative contribution of shear and tension as well as flexion moment – between children (n=20, 6–14 yr) and adults (n=10, 18–30 yr) during low-speed (<4 g, 2.5 m/s) frontal sled tests. The subjects were restrained by a lap and shoulder belt and photo-reflective targets were attached to skeletal landmarks on the head, spine, shoulders, sternum, and legs. A 3D infrared tracking system quantified the position of the targets. Shear force (F_x), axial force (F_z), bending moment (M_y), and head angular acceleration (̈θ_head) using inverse dynamics. The method was validated against ATD measured loads. Peak F_z and ̈θ_head significantly decreased with increasing age while M_y significantly increased with increasing age. F_x significantly increased with age when age was considered as a univariate variable;​ however when variations in head-to-neck girth ratio and change in velocity were accounted for, this difference as a function of age was not significant. These results provide insight into the relationship between age-based differences in head kinematics and the kinetics of the cervical spine. Such information is valuable for pediatric cervical spine models and when scaling adult-based upper cervical spine tolerance and injury metrics to children.