Modern cult of childhood

• Elements of the modern notion of childhood gradually began to emerge in the 13th Century onwards:

  • Schools came to specialise in the education of the young
  • Growing distinctions between adults and children's clothing
  • By the 18th Century, handbooks on childrearing were widely available - a sign of growing child-centeredness of family life
• Aries

  He argues that we have moved from a world that didn't see childhood as in anyway special, to a world that is obsessed with childhood. The 20th century is 'the century of the child'.
• Pollock

  She criticises Aries for arguing that childhood didn't exist. Instead she argues that in the Middle Ages society simply had a different notion of childhood from today's. However, Aries work is valuable as it shows that childhood is socially constructed showing how ideas of childhood and children has changed over time.
• Child centredness - Cunningham 2006

  • Childhood is regarded as the opposite of adulthood. Children are viewed as being in need of protection from the adult world.
  • Child and adult worlds are separated, they have different social spaces e.g. Children - playground, Adults - work/pubs
  • Childhood is increasingly associated with rights
• Donzelot

  Poor families and their children are more likely to be controlled and regulated by the state e.g. health visitors, social workers and 'at risk' registers. The function is to prevent deviant behaviour.
• Vincent and ball

  In a study of middle class childhood, they found that British middle class parents raise 'renaissance children' - they're provided with activities organised around sport and creative pursuits, such as music,art and drama.