Concepts of Childhood

Throughout history, different ideas and opinions about children have surfaced. The concept of the nature of the child and the constructs surrounding childhood has been a topic of popular debate over time and place. Recently, there has been a growing amount of interest and research dedicated to the sociological study of childhood (James, Jenks, & Prout, 1998). The increasing number of literature on this subject provides an avenue for researchers and us to consciously reflect on our understandings and perceptions of children. This essay will begin by identifying two images of the child-the innocent and the out-of-control child, while critically examining the way in which society perceives them. It will then discuss the ways in which I identify with these images through personal experience and observation. Finally, this essay will elucidate the various tensions that revolve around the innocent and out-of-control child.

Our ideas of who children are and how they should behave have embedded themselves so deeply in our culture that our basic understandings of childhood often complicate and interpenetrate one another. The notion of "childhood" has commonly been recognized as a socially constructed phenomenon (Canella, 2005). According to Sorin & Galloway (2006), one of the ways in which childhood is conceptualized is through the ‘innocent child' construct. Dating back to the Middle Ages, this concept depicts the child as a saint and adults as the guardians of the young (Sorin & Galloway, 2006). Within this discourse, children are portrayed as being powerless and vulnerable, subjected to the authority and protection of adults (Sorin, 2005). The underlying implications of this is that children are perceived as incapable of looking after themselves and are therefore reliant on adults for their needs.

This dominant perception of the innocent child is still prevalent in society today, and is reflected in codes of conducts towards children, such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Sorin & Galloway, 2006). Kincaid(1998) critiques this theory by suggesting that our culture too frequently imagines childhood as a utopian space, seperated from worries and closer to realms of purity and innocence, waiting for the protection of adults. This construct is apparent in early childhood classrooms in practices of censorship as adults shelter children from the real world (Sorin, 2005).

Another construct of childhood is the out-of-control child, which provides a contrast to the previous image of the child as pure. The out-of-control child is described as effectively utilising power in a negative way, for example violence or self-destructive behaviours, to influence others (Sorin & Galloway, 2006). The distinction between the two images is that this notion suggests that children assumes power in their relationship with adults, however they will eventually feel out-of-control (Sorin & Galloway, 2006). The internalisation of power by the child can sometimes manifest itself in temper tantrums or self-imposed disorders such as anorexia, which ultimately debilitates the childs' health (Sorin & Galloway, 2006). From this perspective, adults are the ones who are powerless as they are unable to retain authority.

Society often perceives children who are out-of-control as troublesome or dysfunctional. They are often regarded as being unfit to be in a "sanitised" environment of early childhood classrooms and are often held as a counter-example to the innocent child (Sorin, 2005). However, the tendencies of out-of-control children are often a result of behavioral issues which causes them to feel a lack of control over circumstances. For instance, it can be argued that out-of-control children develop "aggressive and controlling behaviours that contribute to the development of an anti-social personality" as a result of attachment disorders (Levy & Orlans, 2005). Sorin & Galloway (2006) asserts that narrative processes help both children and adults rediscover therapeutic ways to gain control over their problems.

From a personal standpoint, I am able to relate to the image of the innocent child. This is because growing up in an Asian community, I lived a very protected and sheltered life. Both my sister and I relied heavily on our parents' provision in every aspect, ranging from basic necessities such as food and shelter to education and monetary needs. While I was never deprived of any perceived fundamental rights, I definitely felt powerless at times because of my inability to explore and be free due to the overprotectiveness of my parents. Parental overprotection that involves tight control of children is pervasive in traditional Asian societies (Lowinger & Kwok, 2001). Some might argue that being protective is the responsible thing for a parent to