Konstruktywne wzorce percepcji dziecka i dzieciństwa w przeszłości oraz współcześnie

Abstract

The author justifies that the scientific analysis of the ways in which the child and childhood are perceived is essential in social sciences not only because it provokes changes in how children are treated but in that it also contributes to the modification of the educational system. When one specifies what the child is and looks closer at the specificity of childhood it is then easier to influence public opinion: the children’s psyche is then better understood and their exceptional emotional and moral sensitivity is better appreciated. The author further argues that it is worth showing to society how much adults owe to the children, how much they learn from them and how far children help adults to self-educate themselves. Sharing knowledge of this kind may help parents and teachers to change unfavourable habits by introducing innovative upbringing attitudes. In many communicative, local and global situations, phrases discrediting children and stereotypical ways of thinking about children and childhood are easier to overcome when one assumes a negative approach towards such phrases and ways of thinking.