Difference between revisions of "Childhood" - New World Encyclopedia

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<!-- Before slapping a merge tag on this article with the [[Child]] article, read through the various talk pages for the debate — it's been put on and removed twice. —>
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{{otheruses4|the phase of human development known as '''childhood'''|the Michael Jackson song|Childhood (song)}}
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{{redirect|Boyhood}}
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'''Childhood''' (being a '''[[child]]''') is a broad term usually applied to the phase of [[Human development|development]] in [[humans]] between [[Infant|infancy]] and [[adulthood]].
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==Definition==
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In recent years there has been a rapid growth of interest in the [[sociological]] study of childhood. Reaching on a large body of contemporary sociological and [[anthropological]] research, people have developed key links between the study of childhood and social theory, exploring its historical, political, and cultural dimensions.
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==History==
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[[Philippe Ariès]], an important French [[medievalist]] and [[historian]], published a study in 1961 of paintings, gravestones, furniture, and school records. He found that before the seventeenth century, children were represented as mini-[[adults]]. Since then historians have increasingly begun to research childhood in past times.
 +
 +
Before Ariès, [[George Boas]] had published ''The Cult of Childhood''.
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Several historical events and period are discussed as relevant to the history of childhood in the West. One such event is the life of [[Jesus Christ]]<ref name=Wilde>Wilde, Oscar. ''De profundis''. Dover Publications New York, 1996.</ref> Christ taught that children were to be loved and revered, a departure from the ancients' attitude to children which was to be propagated in the [[Roman Empire]] during the next 400 years with the introduction of Christianity.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}
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During the [[Renaissance]], artistic depictions of children increased dramatically in Europe. This did not impact the social attitude to children much, however — see the article on [[child labour]].
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The [[Victorian Era]] has been described as a source of the modern institution of childhood. Ironically, the [[Industrial Revolution]] during this era led to an increase in child labour, but due to the campaigning of the [[Evangelicals]], and efforts of author [[Charles Dickens]] and others, child labour was gradually reduced and halted in England via the [[Factory Acts]] of [[1802]]-[[1878]]. The Victorians concomitantly emphasized the role of the family and the sanctity of the child, and broadly speaking, this attitude has remained dominant in [[Western world|Western]] societies since then.
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==Today==
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For the last 100-150 years, childhood in the Western world has been viewed very positively, as one of the happiest phases during a person's existence.
 +
 +
 +
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==Legal definition of child==
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The legal definition of "child" is interchangeable with [[minor]] and may vary by country, in keeping with cultural conceptions. 
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The [[Convention on the Rights of the Child]] defines a child as "every [[human being]] below the age of 18 years unless under the [[law]] applicable to the child, [[Age of majority|majority]] is attained earlier". <ref>{{cite web|title=Convention on the Rights of the Child |url=http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/k2crc.htm |publisher=Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights |date=[[1989-11-20]]}} Ratified by 192 of 194 member countries.</ref>
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In a New York court ruling in 2006 on the eviction of a pregnant woman, the court declared that her child was equally protected under the law although the eviction notice was served before the child was born.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tens of thousands of children evicted without a warrant.|url=http://www.pr-inside.com/tens-of-thousands-of-children-evicted-r27047.htm |publisher=EMAILWIRE.COM,|date=[[2006-11-24 ]]}}</ref>
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== Child development ==
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''[[Child development]]'' is the study of the processes and mechanisms that accompany the  physical and mental development of an infant as it matures.
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''Pediatrics'' is the branch of [[medicine]] relating to the care of children from infancy through adolescence, and sometimes even young adults (ages 0–21 years).
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These age ranges are approximate, and may differ from culture to culture. The following list reflects the concept of child development in the 21st century.
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* [[Zygote]], the point of [[Conception]], fertilization.
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* [[Embryo]]; in the later stages also called [[fetus]].
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* [[Neonate]] (newborn) in the first month outside of the [[womb]].
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* [[Infant]] (baby) (ages 0–1.5).
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* [[Toddler]] (ages 1.5–4).
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* [[Middle childhood]] - [[Primary education|Primary school/Elementary school]] age (ages 5–10).
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* Prepubescence, a subset of the above (ages 10–11, approximately).
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* [[Preadolescence]] (preteen, or [[middle school]] age) (ages 11–13, approximately). Note overlap with prepubesent stage of middle childhood.
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* [[Adolescence|Adolescence and puberty]] (teenager) (13–19).
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== Famous child prodigies ==
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{{main | Child prodigy}}
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* [[Christian Friedrich Heinecken]] (''The Infant of [[Lübeck]]'')
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* [[Isaac Albéniz]]
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* [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart]]
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* [[Sarah Chang]]
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* [[Yo-Yo Ma]]
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==Unaccompanied minor==
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Some airlines provide special services to a passenger who is an '''Unaccompanied Minor (UM)'''. These may be compulsory paid services.
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There may be special rules for [[Right of asylum|asylum]]-seeking unaccompanied minors.
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== References ==
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{{reflist}}
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== External links ==
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*[http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/actearly CDC's "Learn the Signs. Act Early.” campaign] - Information for parents on early childhood development and developmental disabilities
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*[http://www.yesterdays.sk/kategorie.php?id=29 Historical children photos]
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== See also ==
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{{wikiquote}}
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{{commons | Child}}
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{{wiktionarypar | Child | Children | Prepubescent}}
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'''[[List of child related articles]]'''
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{{Col-begin}}
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{{Col-1-of-2}}
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* [[Auxology]]
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* [[Boy]], [[Girl]]
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* [[Child abandonment]]
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* [[Child abuse]]
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* [[Child carrier]]
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* [[Child custody]]
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* [[Child development]]
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* [[Child discipline]]
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* [[Child labor]]
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* [[Child prodigy]]
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* [[Child sexual abuse]]
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* [[Child murder]]
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* [[Child sexuality]]
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* [[Child support]]
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* [[Childcare]]
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* [[Childhood]]
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* [[Children's culture]]
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* [[Children's geographies]]
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* [[Children's street culture]]
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* [[Defense of infancy]]
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{{Col-2-of-2}}
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* [[Education]], [[School]]
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* [[Educational psychology]]
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* [[Fathers' rights]]
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* [[Françoise Dolto]]
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* [[Indigo children]]
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* [[List of songs about children]]
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* [[List of youngsters in history|Children in history]]
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* [[Parenting]]
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* [[Parental Alienation Syndrome]]
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* [[Parental leave]]
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* [[Pedophilia]]
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* [[Pedagogy]]
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* [[Play (activity)|Playing]]
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* [[Street children]]
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* [[Taking Children Seriously]]
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* [[Toy]]
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* [[UNICEF]]
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* [[Visitation]]
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* [[Youth rights]]
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{{Col-end}}
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{{start box}}
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{{succession box | title=[[Human development (biology)|Stages of human development]]<br />[[Child|Childhood]] | before=[[Toddler|Toddlerhood]] | after=[[Preteen]] | years=}}
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{{end box}}
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{{Humandevelopment}}
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{{credits|Childhood|145531859|Child|149284136}}

Revision as of 17:06, 6 August 2007


This article is about the phase of human development known as childhood. For the Michael Jackson song, see Childhood (song).
"Boyhood" redirects here.

Childhood (being a child) is a broad term usually applied to the phase of development in humans between infancy and adulthood.

Definition

In recent years there has been a rapid growth of interest in the sociological study of childhood. Reaching on a large body of contemporary sociological and anthropological research, people have developed key links between the study of childhood and social theory, exploring its historical, political, and cultural dimensions.

History

Philippe Ariès, an important French medievalist and historian, published a study in 1961 of paintings, gravestones, furniture, and school records. He found that before the seventeenth century, children were represented as mini-adults. Since then historians have increasingly begun to research childhood in past times.

Before Ariès, George Boas had published The Cult of Childhood.

Several historical events and period are discussed as relevant to the history of childhood in the West. One such event is the life of Jesus Christ[1] Christ taught that children were to be loved and revered, a departure from the ancients' attitude to children which was to be propagated in the Roman Empire during the next 400 years with the introduction of Christianity.[citation needed]

During the Renaissance, artistic depictions of children increased dramatically in Europe. This did not impact the social attitude to children much, however — see the article on child labour.

The Victorian Era has been described as a source of the modern institution of childhood. Ironically, the Industrial Revolution during this era led to an increase in child labour, but due to the campaigning of the Evangelicals, and efforts of author Charles Dickens and others, child labour was gradually reduced and halted in England via the Factory Acts of 1802-1878. The Victorians concomitantly emphasized the role of the family and the sanctity of the child, and broadly speaking, this attitude has remained dominant in Western societies since then.

Today

For the last 100-150 years, childhood in the Western world has been viewed very positively, as one of the happiest phases during a person's existence.


Legal definition of child

The legal definition of "child" is interchangeable with minor and may vary by country, in keeping with cultural conceptions.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child defines a child as "every human being below the age of 18 years unless under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier". [2]

In a New York court ruling in 2006 on the eviction of a pregnant woman, the court declared that her child was equally protected under the law although the eviction notice was served before the child was born.[3]

Child development

Child development is the study of the processes and mechanisms that accompany the physical and mental development of an infant as it matures.

Pediatrics is the branch of medicine relating to the care of children from infancy through adolescence, and sometimes even young adults (ages 0–21 years).

These age ranges are approximate, and may differ from culture to culture. The following list reflects the concept of child development in the 21st century.

  • Zygote, the point of Conception, fertilization.
  • Embryo; in the later stages also called fetus.
  • Neonate (newborn) in the first month outside of the womb.
  • Infant (baby) (ages 0–1.5).
  • Toddler (ages 1.5–4).
  • Middle childhood - Primary school/Elementary school age (ages 5–10).
  • Prepubescence, a subset of the above (ages 10–11, approximately).
  • Preadolescence (preteen, or middle school age) (ages 11–13, approximately). Note overlap with prepubesent stage of middle childhood.
  • Adolescence and puberty (teenager) (13–19).

Famous child prodigies

Main article: Child prodigy

Unaccompanied minor

Some airlines provide special services to a passenger who is an Unaccompanied Minor (UM). These may be compulsory paid services.

There may be special rules for asylum-seeking unaccompanied minors.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  1. ↑ Wilde, Oscar. De profundis. Dover Publications New York, 1996.
  2. ↑ Convention on the Rights of the Child. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (1989-11-20). Ratified by 192 of 194 member countries.
  3. ↑ Tens of thousands of children evicted without a warrant.. EMAILWIRE.COM, (2006-11-24 ).

External links

See also

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Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:
Commons
Wikimedia Commons has media related to::


List of child related articles

Preceded by:
Toddlerhood 		Stages of human development
Childhood
 Succeeded by:
Preteen

Template:Humandevelopment


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