Childhood

Preindustrial (pre 1760) according to Aries (1962)

Industrial

Modern

• children worked on the land alongside their parents:

-labouring in the field

-leisure time short and life was hard

-little adults

-ascribed roles

• Children were not treated any different to adults:

-wore the same clothes

-ate the same food

-went to work

-punished harshly for crimes the same way adults were punished.

• He used painting and portraits of the 16th/17th century. As it is not first hand research its validity and reality is questioned.

• With the industrial revolution the position of children changed. Children were still working but no longer on the land:

-factories

-coalmines

-worked as chimney sweepers

• At this point their they covered the achieved role
• They were not protected by the law and had to bring in an income.
• They were "economic assets", if they died young no one would have cared about them.

• Society has become more child centred, has more emotional attachment and wants to protect them.
• Children have more advantages:

-their own toys, TV programmes, play area

-special food/drinks

-children are provided with education

-have their own doctors, teachers to care for them

-they are protected by a range of laws

• Higher living standards
• Shorter working week 70/80 versus 44 hours
• Early year education, and compulsory schooling
• Paediatrics
• Children's legal rights
• Welfare state support for children
• Children's consumer market
• Parental fears "stranger danger"

Emergence of childhood:

• Began to emerge from the 13th century  onwards
• Public fee paying schools to educate the rich
• Children seen by the church to be different from adults and need of special discipline and protection 

More legislations to protect the right of children:

• Safeguarding legislation - schools and other institutions monitor children and vulnerable adults
• Children's act 1989 and subsequent update to protect the rights and  welfare of children
• Extension of…