Historical and social change in the concept of childhood_ By:Juan Herrera

  • Stage of infanticide (5th century BCE)
    400 BCE

    Stage of infanticide (5th century BCE)

    • Parents decided on the life or death of their children.
    • There was no concept of childhood.
    • Problems used to be solved by killing the children.
    • Medea is considered the mythological figure representing this stage, because she murdered her children, due to her husband's infidelity.
  • Period: 400 BCE to 1 BCE

    Prehistory (BCE)

  • Greece (384-322 BCE): Childhood according to Aristotle
    322 BCE

    Greece (384-322 BCE): Childhood according to Aristotle

    • The concept of liberal education and integral development of people is created.
    • He had the aim of contributing to the formation of free men.
    • Different periods for early childhood education: 2 y/o: Children are hardened making them suffer difficulties. 5 y/o: No study and no hard work. 7-12 y/o: Public speaking and declamation studies.
  • Rome: Concept of childhood
    300 BCE

    Rome: Concept of childhood

    • Liberal education loses relevance
    • The aim was to train good speakers.
    • Schooling is divided into three stages: Ludus (7-12 y/o), Grammar (12-16 y/o) and Rhetoric (from16 years).
  • 4th century: Infanticide as murder
    301

    4th century: Infanticide as murder

    • Infanticide was not considered murder until the fourth century, although it was still practiced during the Middle Ages.
    • The child begins to be conceived as helpless and dependent.
  • Greece and Rome: The church as the most important social and educational institution
    476

    Greece and Rome: The church as the most important social and educational institution

    • The idea of liberal education disappears completely.
    • Education was based on preparing the child to serve God and his representatives, with a submission to the authority of the church itself.
  • Period: 476 to 1492

    Medieval period (5th to 15th century)

  • Stage of helplessness (5th to 13th century)
    1300

    Stage of helplessness (5th to 13th century)

    • Children began to be recognized as beings with souls but were still considered evil.
    • The children were given to priests or teachers so that they could educate them properly.
    • Many girls from poor families are handed over as servants at the age of 6.
    • Griselda is the mythological figure of this stage, who abandoned her children to show her love for her husband.
  • Period: 1492 to

    Early modern period (15th to 18th century)

  • Renaissance: Erasmo and Luis Vives (1492-1540)
    1540

    Renaissance: Erasmo and Luis Vives (1492-1540)

    • Demonstrate interest in the evolution of the child and his or her nature.
    • They express interest in the adaptation of children's education and women's education levels.
  • Renaissance: Comenius (1592-1670)

    Renaissance: Comenius (1592-1670)

    • It is emphasized that children should be educated in the role of the mother as the primary caregiver.
    • The child is born neither good nor bad, but everything he becomes depends on his experiences.
  • Stage of ambiguity (14th to 17th century): Transition from the Middle Ages to the Early modern period.

    Stage of ambiguity (14th to 17th century): Transition from the Middle Ages to the Early modern period.

    • Children were still considered evil and dangerous beings, who had to be violently corrected.
    • Affective bonds begin to form between parents and children.
    • The Virgin Mary and the baby Jesus were the representative figure of this stage.
  • Renaissance: Locke (1632-1704)

    Renaissance: Locke (1632-1704)

    • Change in the conceptions of nature in humans, and therefore, in children.
    • Insists that the child's future depends on his or her experiences, implying the importance of experience and habits.
  • End of the modern age: Rousseau (1712-1778)

    End of the modern age: Rousseau (1712-1778)

    • He wrote the book 'Émile ou De l'éducation' (1762) which contains a set of basic principles for learning how to raise and educate a child.
    • He confidently advocates that all applied education should be adapted to the child's capabilities, so that he or she can retain knowledge.
  • Period: to

    Late modern period

  • Stage of acceptance (17th to 18th century): Transition from the Early modern period to the Late modern period

    Stage of acceptance (17th to 18th century): Transition from the Early modern period to the Late modern period

    • Empathy towards children begins to exist, causing a decrease in negative thoughts towards them.
    • Religion has a high degree of influence.
    • Parents begin to use dialogue to control children, and threats to correct them.
  • Froebel (1782-1852): Beginning of the contemporary world

    Froebel (1782-1852): Beginning of the contemporary world

    Promotes the idea of the Kindergarten (pre-school):
    - Importance of children's recreation.
    - Increased interaction between parents and children.
    - Emphasizes the educational continuity between school-home-community.
  • Stage of family bonding (18th to 19th century)

    Stage of family bonding (18th to 19th century)

    • There begins to be a relationship of love and respect between parents and children.
    • The interest in educating and training children correctly is created.
    • Great development of human and medical sciences, especially pediatrics.
  • 20th century: First declaration of the rights of the child

    20th century: First declaration of the rights of the child

    Contained five fundamental principles for the care and attention of the child:
    1. That the child should have the possibility of a normal physical and psychological development.
    2. That a hungry child should be fed.
    3. That an abused child should be taken care of.
    4. That a sick child had to be cared for.
    5. If a child is orphaned or abandoned, he/she must be cared for.
  • 20th century: Creation of UNICEF

    20th century: Creation of UNICEF

    • It was created to provide urgent help to children after World War II.
    • Currently, its objective is to guarantee the fulfillment of the rights of children and adolescents and to ensure their well-being throughout the world.
  • 20th century: Second declaration of the rights of the child

    20th century: Second declaration of the rights of the child

    • Certain deficiencies were revealed in the first declaration of the rights of the child, leading to the modification of the text.
    • “The child is recognized, universally, as a human being who must be able to develop physically, mentally, socially, morally, and spiritually, with freedom and dignity.”
    • Was unanimously approved by all 78 UN member states.
  • 20th century: The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)

    20th century: The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)

    • The convention defines a child as 'any human being under the age of eighteen, unless the age of majority is attained earlier under national legislation.'
    • It is emphasized that children have the same rights as adults and those rights that derive from their special condition as human beings who, because they have not reached full physical and mental development, require special protection.
  • 21st century: The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict

    21st century: The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict

    The United Nations General Assembly adopts two Optional Protocols to the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child, which oblige States Parties to take crucial measures both to prevent children from taking part in hostilities during armed conflict and to put an end to the sale, sexual exploitation and abuse of children.
  • 21st century: A World Fit for Children

    21st century: A World Fit for Children

    During the UN Special Session on Children, children's delegates address the General Assembly for the first time. The "A World Fit for Children" program is adopted, outlining specific goals for improving the prospects of children over the course of the next decade.
  • Stage of evolution (19th century to the present)

    Stage of evolution (19th century to the present)

    • The child is a citizen with rights, care and special needs.
    • Violence is not permitted for teaching or correction.
    • It recognizes the importance of a comprehensive education and of knowing the child's needs.
  • 21st century: The concept of childhood at present

    21st century: The concept of childhood at present

    • The concept of childhood focuses on respect for children's rights, their integral development and their preparation to face the challenges of an increasingly globalized and technological world. In addition, international organizations and national laws have been established to guarantee the rights and protection of children.