This is the 418th most frequent Finnish word.
lapsen
"Lapsen" means "child's" or "of the child" in English.
Here, 'lapsen' is in the genitive case, indicating possession or defining the specific child being seen.
Näin lapsen leikkimässä pihalla.
I saw the child playing in the yard.
In this usage, 'lapsen' denotes possession, referring to whose toys they are.
Lapsen lelut olivat levällään olohuoneessa.
The child's toys were scattered in the living room.
In this context, 'lapsen' is in the genitive case, linked to 'elämästä' to indicate whose life the story pertains to.