Childhood of the Modern Society

Childhood of the Modern Society

Childhood is a fundamental stage and its influence extends into adult

life. To guarantee that children and adolescents have the best

possible start in life is the way to ensure the development and

progress of nations. The dictionary defines childhood as the period of

life between infancy and puberty. Often these days, this is the age of

children attending primary school and early secondary school. While it

is admittedly true that with stress and a heavy workload, children do

have lesser time for themselves, it would be exaggerated to say that

there is no such thing as childhood anymore.

Children in the colonial period were seen as beings who should adopt

adult behavior and assume adult responsibilities as soon as possible.

They were dressed as adults as early as age seven or eight. By age ten

children often lived with other families and worked for them as hired

laborers or servants. Often, young girls were married off by the age

of twelve and were mothers soon after. The American Revolution, which

produced so many changes in political and social life, encouraged

families in the new nation to become more egalitarian. The family,

magazine articles advised, should be a less authoritarian institution.

Children had needs of their own; they were individuals, not simply the

property of their parents. Stories and advice literature urged parents

to reason with their children rather than scold or beat them.

In the twentieth century, the nineteenth-century idea of the

child-centered family was in full bloom. Most parents valued children

highly and placed their hopes for the future in them. Children

benef...

... middle of paper ...

...ly do they not appreciate the basic necessities provided

for them, they often also take for granted the luxuries they are

provided with.

Furthermore, I feel that with the awareness that has been raised by

the government for a holistic education and the importance of

childhood as a foundation of life, parents are now gradually giving

their children a great deal more of autonomy, as well as letting them

learn at their own pace.

I can thus conclude that there is indeed still such a thing as

childhood. Perhaps the definitions of childhood have changed over

time, but the basic essence of innocence and care-freeness of a child

are still dominant in children today. Thus, despite the growing

academic stress, I feel that children today are still generally given

a chance to be children, and to take their time growing up.