Childhood

• Childhood changes over time and space and is a socially constructed concept
• We are moving towards child centered society
• Aries - studied paintings of children in the middle ages, he notes childhood did not exist as children were mini adults with the same legal right, duties and expectations

• 13th Century: schools increading wanted to protect children from evil 
• 17th Century: growing distinction between adults and childrens clothing especially in the upper classes
• 18th Century: handbooks on rearing children are issued
• 1800's: children become financially dependent on their parents
• 1880: introduction of compulsory schooling
• 1889: prevetion of cruelty to children act
• 1989: UN convention develops the rights of the child: to be educated and protected from abuse, parents are made responsible

• Llyod de Mause believes childhood is emerging from a nightmare and coming into much better positions as society develops
• Children can no longer work and get to experience a period of freedom

CONFLICT

• Children are abused, sexually, emotionally and physically
• Children have no control over time and space, this is all restricted by their parents
• Other socities do not follow the same rules, child soldiers
• Children's choice in education is very restricted 

• Postman - childhood is disappearing at a dazzling speed
• There is free access to information from a young age which blurs the line between childhood and adulthood
• Palmer - toxic childhood
• No interaction with the family, poor sleep patterns, decline in emotional security, unhealthy food and lack of natural surroundings
• Increase in ADHD, substance and self abuse
• Sexualised childhood