Redefining Theories : The Importance Of The New Paradigm

There is little evidence of what it was really like in the past so it is difficult for a lot of people to re-construct the life of a child, however from what I have researched, and in my own opinion I am going to summarise the historical changes in childhood experience and relate these changes to childhood development and rights.

The lives of children are greatly influenced by the environment they grow up in, and the people they come in contact with. For years, psychologists, researchers, and social workers have studied children, and why they do what they do. All have developed many different perspectives on how to view social problems and the development of individuals.

“childhood is socially constructed. It is in other words, what members of particular societies, at particular times, and in particular places, say it is. There is no single universal childhood experienced by all. So childhood isn't 'natural' and should be distinguished from mere biological immaturity”

Different discourses of childhood have different ideas of childhood which has different implications on the way in which children are treated. Within the social constructionist theory there are 3 main discourses - romantic, puritan and tabula rasa. This essay will look

Childhood was not considered a special time for development but rather a hurdle on the way to adulthood. “The goal was to get children speaking, reading, reasoning, and contributing to their family’s economic well-being as quickly as possible.”(Mintz 50) Many kids as young as six were working outside of the home at the time. A cultural revolution began in the eighteenth century when many middle class parents began to relish in their children’s innocence and saw this a time to nurture mold their children. As this form of parenting became the norm many parents began to have less children by using birth control, thus giving the fewer children they had more of their attention. As time progressed kids spent more time going to school rather than to work. “Within the last 3 centuries “Societal views about methods of Child rearing, the nature of children’s play, the ideal duration of schooling, the participation of young people in work, and the demarcation points between childhood, adolescence, and adulthood have shifted significantly.”(Mintz

When children have a new experience they ‘accommodate’ their existing experience to it and they ‘assimilate’ aspects of the new experience… (Jean Piaget 1926). The

The theories/approaches established by historical and contemporary pioneers provide valuable insight, underpinning the understanding of how children develop, allowing teachers to enhance the holistic development of every child. This essay will analyse the: behaviourist theory; cognitive-developmental theory; and socio-cultural theory.

One of the main features of childhood studies is the idea that childhood is socially constructed. This means that not all childhoods are the same and that it may differ depending on the time in which it is taking place, as well as the social environment or the place that it is taking place. This can be seen at the Museum of Childhood, and how different times have shown changes in the way children act, play, dress, or ultimately are treated in society. Additionally it draws on key differences in the human societies affecting different childhoods in any given period or place, and can examine how the childhood in that given period is constructed. Furthermore a social constructionist looks at the consequences of any given factor and the impact it has on children.

The concept of childhood, is not a natural state, but it has been socially constructed through society and can only exist in a society that understand the term this has been reinforced through history. Another issue is how much of ‘childhood’ has been socially constructed (created and

Our childhood plays a significant role in defining the kind of person that we become and the type of life that we live.

Discuss the ideology underpinning policy and practice for children and young people and demonstrate an awareness of constructs of childhood and adolescence from either an educational or care perspective.

According to Allison James, Children are often discouraged in the United States, from making minimal decisions on their own or showing evidence of autonomy at young ages. She asserts that childhood can denote more than one ideology, depending on where you are. In addition, James also touches on insight offered by historian , Phillipe Aries who interjects that there was no concept of childhood during the mid-evil era. Thus alluding to the cultural and social influences that factor into the structure of how a particular society defines what it means to be a child.

Childhood as disappearing/not disappearing will be discussed within this essay. There is no universal definition for childhood however in the western culture childhood is a period of dependency, characterised by learning the norms and values of society, innocence and freedom from responsibilities. Sociologists such as Postman and Jenks would argue that childhood is disappearing however Opie and Opie and Palmer would contradict this.

Kuther, T. L., & McDonald, E. (2004). Early adolescents ' experiences with, and views of,

The outlook and opinion-based beliefs of a society has detrimental effects on anything and everything that is valued in our world. The way in which a society views something greatly impacts its functionality. The societal views on the stage of life called childhood directly affects children and takes opportunities away from them, as well as stunts their development into fully-functioning, self-entitled human beings. The effects and consequences for children who live in our society, which sees childhood as a growing stage that needs to be strictly directed, are immense. Childhood is in fact a stage of nurture and upbringing; however, children need to be understood as functioning human beings, and as people with impactful ideas and beliefs. Children are protected to an extent and that is evident through the strict laws involving child abuse and child soldiers, and these laws are supported by the vast majority of global society. The significance of societal beliefs when regarding childhood also has a critical effect on our education system, our parenting methods and our ability to make children feel heard.