Childhood is a Recent Discovery
For a long time, childhood was not perceived as a distinct stage in the life of a person. This is why children could often be described as small adults (Fass, 2013, p. 2). Furthermore, they had to assume the role of adults very early. This argument is particularly relevant if one speaks about employment. This concept of childhood began to emerge and evolve in the nineteenth century. In particular, many educators and medical workers began to focus on the needs of this age group. For example, one can mention their learning or nutritional needs. To some degree, these changes prompted parents to assume new responsibilities and develop various skills which are important for the education of children. These skills are related to such areas as communication or the ability to act as role models (Stearns, 2005, p. 8). These are some of the issues that should be taken into account.
Childhood has become very important because this notion is very useful for explaining how the values and attitudes of individuals are formed. Moreover, it is critical for the discussion of the reasons why a person may experience certain psychological problems. This increased awareness can be explained by the work of many psychologists who studied the cognitive and moral development of children as well as adolescents (Fass, 2013). Thus, it is vital to create an environment in which children can acquire the skills which are important for their socialization and intellectual growth. The concept of childhood can be of great interest to various professionals; in particular, one can speak about psychologists, educators, and social workers. One can argue that in the future, researchers will pay even more attention to the notion of childhood.
Reference List
Fass, P. (2013).The Routledge History of Childhood in the Western World. New York, NY: Routledge.
Stearns, P. (2005).Growing Up: The History of Childhood in a Global Context. New York, NY: Baylor University Press.