Theme 1: CHILDHOOD

The issue of childhood will be addressed using your own experiences as a young adult who has gone through the different stages. The stages don't have a concrete line where you go through an overnight transformation.

The characteristics of childhood can be divided into 3 separate stages:

bulletComponents to consider:
bulletself-identity
bulletbehavior
bulletrelationship with parents
bulletrelationship with opposite sex
bulletrelationship with peers
bulletmethod of solving problems
bulletmaterialistic views

 

Early Childhood

(Age 6-12)- primary school

Teenage

(Age 13-17)-secondary school

Young adult

(Age 18-23)-college/university
Innocent/ naïve
Childish
Carefree
Close to parents (need)
Obedient to authority
Have playmates
fickle minded
Doesn't value money
Indifferent to the opposite sex
Play with identity (teenage mutant ninja turtles, tea party)
dependent on adults
easily tempted
shy and sensitive (cry)

 
tries to be independent
frustrated/confused
weak relationship with parents. (feel they lack understanding or parents don't care)
question authority
depend on peers
money gives status
hormone overload
wish to be adults (smoke…)
looking for an identity
independent
responsible
relationship with parents improve (see eye to eye or some don't at all)
defy authority (we know best)
values money (looks for the best deal)
friendships (socialize)
hormones under control
making adult choices (love, education, ambition)
ambitious
initiating adulthood

Study Questions:

  1. What are some of the unique characteristics of :
    Early childhood
    Teenage
    Young adult
  1. How does child / parent relationships change from early childhood to young adult? What are some of the reasons for these changes?
  2. What approach do children have to the opposite sex during each stage? Why is there a distinct difference?
  3. Why do children value money differently at each stage? Give examples.
  4. How would a child's quest for an identity change from the early childhood stage to the young adult stage?
  5. Childhood is a stage of helplessness, powerlessness and confusion. Analyze this idea for each stage.
  6. Do you think that children should be introduced to the realities of life at an early stage or at their own pace? Give some examples of the realities that a child should be introduced to, at what stage and why?

 

 

Childhood Issues:
Early Education
Child abuse
Violence in children
censorship
poverty and children
child labor
children of war
parenting issues
introducing children to realities:
money
cartoons/media
adult topics (sex education)
death
believes
 video and computer games

Save the Children Project

Sample of childhood issues

bullet child poverty
bullet children and divorce
bulletchild violence
bullet children and violence in the media
bullet children and working parents
bulletChildren and war
bulletUNICEF

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