U136/1.1.2. Evaluate the relationship between theoretical perspectives and early years curriculum models. There have been and will to come be many theorists opinions that have helped shape changes in childcare. In medieval times children were often sent out to work at a very early age and childhood was not valued or cherished as it is today. Children from poor families were expected to earn a living as soon as possible and children from noble families were schooled.
It was only during this time frame that ‘upper class’ children first attended school. This is due to the fact that there had been no direct barrier between adults and children, with children working side by side with adults. Whilst children of the upper class were allowed to attended school, this didn’t apply to all classes within society. Throughout the industrial revolution, many children worked in factories and mills right up until the 19th century where laws regarding factory acts banned child labour in mines and factories. Children were not only viewed as adults but also portrayed as adults.
Sociologists say that childhood socially constructed (which means that it is created and defined by society). They say that the position children have in society is not permanently fixed, it changes over time. This is obvious by looking at how childhood is seen in other cultures and the past. It is accepted in our society now that childhood should be a special time of life, children are seen as being different from adults so should be treated differently because they are physically and psychologically immature and are not able to be dependent. So they are seen to need a lengthy period of time where they are nurtured and socialised before they are seen as responsible adults in society.
Andersson performed a study in Sweden which indicated that good quality daycare led to positive social and intellectual advantages. She showed that centres with qualified staff with a low staff turnover were able to provide beneficial social, emotional and cognitive effects for children. Yet, all studies into daycare can be criticised as they cannot control all the variables that are significant to a child’s development such as temperament, parenting style or economic background. Longitudinal studies have also been effectively used of assessing the long term effects of day care on child development. The NICHD study in the USA tracked 1200 children from birth to when they started school.
According to Aries (1962), childhood can be defined as a social construction. Children were once regarded as ‘little adults’ and an economic asset rather than a symbol of love due to the high death rates making it hard to emotionally invest. However, now, according to Pilcher, a key aspect of childhood is ‘separateness’ from adulthood. Aries definition of childhood as a social construction can be supported by cross-cultural differences and more specifically Punch (2001). Punch studied children in Bolivia and found that at age 5 children were expected to work and take on responsibilities.
This is likely because she was only a young child while Sal and Barbara almost a decade older than she is. Deanna was only a child while the anti-war protests and civil rights movements were happening all around the country. Her only statement is simply that, “I feel we are more book smart…when we want to look up things we would have to go straight to the encyclopedia. Now a day’s everything is electronic.” This alludes to her view of the good old days when times were simple and life was pleasant. This is a significant difference from the politically charged times Sal and Barbara describe when thinking about their generation.
Sine after-school programs were not supported by the government, community associations like Boy Scouts of America and YMCA were in charge of most after-school activities. However, after educational standards expectation became stricter, a lot of states considered developing extra learning supports to help children achieve. Simply, early programs were developed partly to help immigrant children to adjust to a new country and learn what it means to be a citizen. Programs today serve not only the children of immigrant families but also general children ages 5 to 12 in the United States. Kweonmin Yi, who graduated from Cedar Park Christian High School as an international student in 2009, is an example of an immigrant who found greater social connection in America through after-school programs.
One way in which they achieved this was by having many children. This way, they could be sent out to work at a young age and bring in money to the household. Subsequently, there wasn't a 'childhood' as such, as children were essentially considered to be smaller versions of adults. They would be fed the same food as them from a very early age, they would wear clothes that were just old clothes from siblings, mirroring the image of the normal working class. This was until education was introduced, and made compulsory.
For many years, children growing up in a single parent family have been viewed as different. Being raised by only one parent seems impossible to many yet over the decades it has become more prevalent. In today’s society many children have grown up to become emotionally stable and successful whether they had one or two parents to show them the rocky path that life bestows upon all human beings. The problem lies in the difference of children raised by single parents versus children raised by both a mother and a father. Does a child need both parents?
For many years, children growing up in a single parent family have been viewed as different. Being raised by only one parent seems impossible to many yet over the decades it has become more prevalent. In today’s society many children have grown up to become emotionally stable and successful whether they had one or two parents to show them the rocky path that life bestows upon all human beings. The problem lies in the difference of children raised by single parents versus children raised by both a mother and a father. Does a child need both parents?