Distinctive toys and games Essay Example for Free

Distinctive toys and games Essay The claim that childhood as we know it is essentially a creation of the 20th century. is led by Phillippe Aries, a French historian, he carried out detailed studies of the developing nature of childhood and family in France and England from pre-modern to modern times. He suggests that childhood, as we know it, meaning the idea of a child individuality, separate from adults is basically the creation of the 20th century. His argument was that in previous times children were effectively miniature adults, and were treated as such. Historical sociologists pointed out how in the past games and play were not separate childhood activities but things in which adults engaged in too, and that they took interest in dolls houses and dresses, and model soldiers. Childhood is actually something, which is exclusive to our own culture and times. Children were part of the adult world with the progress of industrialisation they have been pushed into a specific category and are thought of and considered different to adults. Factors of the problem originated in the middle classes including religious reasons, humanitarian reasons, the need to produce future workers who were numerate and literate, the need to get children off streets and give them a moral upbringing. However it was the working class who confronted moves to remove children from jobs and move them towards compulsory education. Many families were dependent on extra wages, which were brought in by children, to stave of poverty. However can we trust Aries evidence as it is all secondary data and paintings of people who were royalty or rich women not of ordinary people. Childhood in the 21st century is different from childhood in the 16th century or working class childhood in the 19th century. There used to be a large number of orphans, which meant that many children had to look after themselves.  Aries believes that childhood is not just a biological state associated with immaturity and adolescence, it is also a social experience, which differs from one historical period to another. Aries and Lawrence Stone suggest that in medieval society the idea of childhood and adolescence, as independent categories to adults did not exist. Children were considered little adults. They took part in the same work and play activities as adults. They didnt have distinctive toys and games, we now take for granted as childish things. Children were not considered as special as is today. People were indifferent to them even unfriendly. This was probably due to high infant mortality. One quarter or more infants did not survive their first year compared with less than one per cent of infants in the West today. Stone argues a similar view he suggests that pre-industrial families were a unit of production working on land or occupied in crafts together. Children were prepared to help parents from a very young age. Those who did not help with household production usually left to become servants or apprentices. After industrialisation there is some evidence that these attitudes towards children continued, especially in the working class where children were repeatedly found to be increasing family income by working in factories, mines and mills. The middle-class attitudes towards children started to change in this period, when there was a growth in parental and marital love in middle-class families and as infant mortality rate started to fall, although there was a growth in the authoritarian power of fathers.