Attempting to Pin Down a Definition of Childhood

The term ‘Childhood’ has always be hard to define as it will vary from each person, every person would have experienced a childhood but how they define theirs is a different story. ‘Childhood is the time for children to be in school and at play, to grow strong and confident with the love and encouragement of their family and an extended community of caring adults.’(UNICEF, 2005). From a psychological view childhood would be defined as the space between birth and attainment of adulthood; but it is far more than that, it a special time where the child children are safe from violence, free from fear, protected from exploitation and abuse and free to explore the treasures of life. In the UK there is no official age when you are no longer a child but considered an adult. But society sees it at the age 18 as many responsibilities are brought to light at this age.

‘A role model is a person whose serves as an example by influencing others. For many children, the most important role models are their parents and caregivers’ (AACAP,2011). Children tend to look up to a variety of different ‘role models’ whether there are parents, caregivers, teachers or peers and these models are those who help shape how they react to schooling, relationships or when making difficult decisions. Children may often try to imitate the appearance and behaviour of those in the media, such as entertainers, athletes, music artists, movies and videos games. Parents attempt to guide their child to choose a positive role more but it doesn’t always happen.

Aristotle’s idea of virtual ethics relies solely on the effect role models have on people. He believe that a huge part of role models is modelling the behaviour of someone moral. Through continuous modelling we becom...

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...s Health, Girls Health website ‘one or two of every 100 students have some form of an eating disorder’. Ultra-thin actresses and super models are extremely common in the media serve to propagate the notion, especially to an impressionable child, that an extremely thing frame is desirable. Likewise, celebrity role models may glamorize damaging and destructive behaviours such as drinking alcohol, engaging in drug use or promiscuous behaviours.

In conlusion, role models play a vital part for the child’s development, they can learn almost everything they need to know about life through the few role models they have. There is no limit to how many role models a child desires just as long as their positive in some aspect. Practically anyone can be a role model as long as they have admirable features about them. Parents play such a huge role in terms of being a role model.