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A History of Childhood: Children and Childhood in the West from Medieval to Modern Times
In this lively and accessible book, Colin Heywood explores the changing experiences and perceptions of childhood from the early Middle Ages to the beginning of the twentieth century. Heywood examines the different ways in which people have thought about childhood as a stage of life, the relationships of children with their families and peers, and the experiences of young people at work, in school and at the hands of various welfare institutions. The aim is to place the history of children and childhood firmly in its social and cultural context, without losing sight of the many individual experiences that have come down to us in diaries, autobiographies and oral testimonies.
Heywood argues that there is a cruel paradox at the heart of childhood in the past. On the one hand, material conditions for children have generally improved in the West, however belatedly and unevenly, and they are now more valued than in the past. On the other hand, the business of preparing for adulthood has become more complicated in urban and industrial societies, as the young face a bewildering array of choices and expectations.
A History of Childhood will be an essential introduction to the subject for students of history, the social sciences and cultural studies.
Heywood argues that there is a cruel paradox at the heart of childhood in the past. On the one hand, material conditions for children have generally improved in the West, however belatedly and unevenly, and they are now more valued than in the past. On the other hand, the business of preparing for adulthood has become more complicated in urban and industrial societies, as the young face a bewildering array of choices and expectations.
A History of Childhood will be an essential introduction to the subject for students of history, the social sciences and cultural studies.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 3, 2001
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297 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 25, 2021
Made me realise once again, how the modern Western world takes for granted the quarantined childhood from the adult world compared to other periods in time.
November 23, 2014
Interesting topic and good research, but not gripping
The prudent approach has merit: the author provides his source material and keeps speculation on a short leash. The facts and the materials are interesting too. But overall I wasn't gripped, and didn't finish. Maybe it is more of a scholarly work than a book for the general public.
The prudent approach has merit: the author provides his source material and keeps speculation on a short leash. The facts and the materials are interesting too. But overall I wasn't gripped, and didn't finish. Maybe it is more of a scholarly work than a book for the general public.
January 27, 2016
Entirely competent book on the subject matter, but not as well presented as, say, Mother Nature. Suffers from "series of academic essays" format, jumps around in time too much, and draws questionable conclusions. Still, interesting stuff and not obscured in any way. Glad I read but won't re-read.
August 15, 2015
Biraz daha tarihsel açıklamalarla olan bir kitap, çocuklarla ilgili işi olan kişilerin okumasını tavsiye ederim ya da çocukları merakedenleri okumalarını tavsiye ederim
April 12, 2024
Interesting topic… just poorly handled. A few interesting facts sprinkled on a well sourced but woefully dry narrative.
March 20, 2020
A History of Childhood spans the period between Medieval and modern times. Heywood has set out to portray the changing experiences of children and how the world’s perceptions of childhood have altered as a concept over time.
The book’s introduction cites that the study of childhood is a ‘relatively recent phenomenon’, but it is certainly one which is of growing importance in the world in which we live. Heywood states that in the early modern period, children were ‘largely absent’ from English Literature, and the child ‘was, at most, a marginal figure in the adult world’. He also says that the shifting of history and perceptions of it, along with a ‘growing volume of monographs in historical literature… makes it possible now to grasp the diversity of experience among young people in the past’.
The book itself is comprised of three sections which detail childhood as a social construct, the ‘process of growing up in the past’ and ‘aspects of children in the wider world’, with particular emphasis upon their education, health and employment.
Perspectives of many writers – both of fiction and non-fiction – and researchers have been included throughout, which the author subsequently builds upon. These opinions range from writers as diverse as Frank McCourt, author of Angela’s Ashes, to the accounts of childhood found in various Dickens novels. As well as this, several paintings, illustrations and tables have been used as an accompaniment to the text, serving to reinforce the points which Heywood makes. Extracts from a diverse array of diaries have also been included, ranging from exasperated mother Hester Thrale writing in the 1700s, to the fourteenth century account of Francesco de Barberino, detailing the appearance which he believes a successful wet nurse should have.
A History of Childhood is an incredibly well researched book. The ‘Select’ bibliography spans eleven pages, and the notes which accompany the text and explain certain points in more detail are vast and in-depth. Each of the three sections opens with a short introduction, setting out the main points which the chapter aims to cover. The text is set out well with short sections and headings to explain the general gist of the paragraphs which follow. These headings include such elements as the nature versus nurture debate, the role of independence in shaping the life of a child, relationships between parents and their children, the use of birth control and traditional naming practices. Heywood has not just covered the happier aspects of childhood, but has included elements such as infanticide, abandonment and the strict enforcement of rules, as well as the use of child labour historically.
A History of Childhood is aimed at students of history, social science and cultural studies. The writing style works very well. It is not dense nor confusing, but explanatory. No point which is made is left as merely a statement. Instead, Heywood serves to explain it in a manner which his intended audience will fully understand. In consequence, A History of Childhood is a wonderful reference book for students. Its contents are fascinating and far-reaching, and the reader is sure to learn a lot from the book.
The book’s introduction cites that the study of childhood is a ‘relatively recent phenomenon’, but it is certainly one which is of growing importance in the world in which we live. Heywood states that in the early modern period, children were ‘largely absent’ from English Literature, and the child ‘was, at most, a marginal figure in the adult world’. He also says that the shifting of history and perceptions of it, along with a ‘growing volume of monographs in historical literature… makes it possible now to grasp the diversity of experience among young people in the past’.
The book itself is comprised of three sections which detail childhood as a social construct, the ‘process of growing up in the past’ and ‘aspects of children in the wider world’, with particular emphasis upon their education, health and employment.
Perspectives of many writers – both of fiction and non-fiction – and researchers have been included throughout, which the author subsequently builds upon. These opinions range from writers as diverse as Frank McCourt, author of Angela’s Ashes, to the accounts of childhood found in various Dickens novels. As well as this, several paintings, illustrations and tables have been used as an accompaniment to the text, serving to reinforce the points which Heywood makes. Extracts from a diverse array of diaries have also been included, ranging from exasperated mother Hester Thrale writing in the 1700s, to the fourteenth century account of Francesco de Barberino, detailing the appearance which he believes a successful wet nurse should have.
A History of Childhood is an incredibly well researched book. The ‘Select’ bibliography spans eleven pages, and the notes which accompany the text and explain certain points in more detail are vast and in-depth. Each of the three sections opens with a short introduction, setting out the main points which the chapter aims to cover. The text is set out well with short sections and headings to explain the general gist of the paragraphs which follow. These headings include such elements as the nature versus nurture debate, the role of independence in shaping the life of a child, relationships between parents and their children, the use of birth control and traditional naming practices. Heywood has not just covered the happier aspects of childhood, but has included elements such as infanticide, abandonment and the strict enforcement of rules, as well as the use of child labour historically.
A History of Childhood is aimed at students of history, social science and cultural studies. The writing style works very well. It is not dense nor confusing, but explanatory. No point which is made is left as merely a statement. Instead, Heywood serves to explain it in a manner which his intended audience will fully understand. In consequence, A History of Childhood is a wonderful reference book for students. Its contents are fascinating and far-reaching, and the reader is sure to learn a lot from the book.
March 2, 2024
Se c'è una cosa che insegna il libro, con la sua ricca documentazione e la capacità di dare spazio alle diverse ipotesi che sono state fatte nel tempo sulla storia dell'infanzia, è che nel corso dei secoli, almeno in quelli dell'Europa (e poi degli Stati Uniti) dal medioevo in poi, difficilmente si può generalizzare su come i bambini venissero trattati entro la società: le cose potevano variare molto a seconda delle regioni, e poi per genere (ovviamente su bambini e bambine le aspettative potevano essere molto divergenti), classe sociale, etnia (quest'ultima ovviamente negli Stati Uniti), ma in genere ogni famiglia poteva fare un po' a modo suo e c'era davvero di tutto come modelli educativi ed esperienze di crescita.
Quello che effettivamente a un certo punto cambia la situazione è l'imposizione di leggi uniformanti a cui sempre più difficilmente si poteva e si può scappare, ovvero la progressiva espulsione dei più giovani dal Mondo del lavoro e la altrettanto progressiva reclusione in cui quell'istituzione chiamata scuola.
Forse mai come oggi è stata forte la pressione, almeno nei paesi ad avanzata industrializzazione, per avere un'infanzia uguale per tutti e standardizzata; pressione ovviamente presentata come moralmente giusta.
Poi, ovviamente, uno sguardo più ampio ad altre culture, esterne a quella europea, potrebbe ulteriormente arricchire la prospettiva e mettere in discussione anche l'effettiva varietà dell'infanzia riscontrata nell'Europa preindustriale. Ma di questo ne parlano altri libri.
Quello che effettivamente a un certo punto cambia la situazione è l'imposizione di leggi uniformanti a cui sempre più difficilmente si poteva e si può scappare, ovvero la progressiva espulsione dei più giovani dal Mondo del lavoro e la altrettanto progressiva reclusione in cui quell'istituzione chiamata scuola.
Forse mai come oggi è stata forte la pressione, almeno nei paesi ad avanzata industrializzazione, per avere un'infanzia uguale per tutti e standardizzata; pressione ovviamente presentata come moralmente giusta.
Poi, ovviamente, uno sguardo più ampio ad altre culture, esterne a quella europea, potrebbe ulteriormente arricchire la prospettiva e mettere in discussione anche l'effettiva varietà dell'infanzia riscontrata nell'Europa preindustriale. Ma di questo ne parlano altri libri.
January 24, 2021
A good overview of Western childhood from ~1400-1900, didn't get into too many details but it's of course a huge topic. Seems like he referred to a couple sources more than others, but overall I feel a better sense of how childhood changed over the centuries and why, and the factors at play. Certainly inspiring me to look into other things like history of education and childhood in a global setting. Overall I'd call it a good introduction but not necessarily mind blowing and the beginning about infancy is a bit brutal but yeah.
February 4, 2018
A great introduction to the historical study of childhood and the child. Using a thematic approach, Heywood examines various aspects of childhood and child rearing from toys and games to parenting styles to methods of birth control. It is a very readable and engaging book which will be of interest to both history students and the casual reader.
December 10, 2018
Читаю літературу для курсу "Історія дитинства". Ця книжка - гарний підручник, в якому зібрані основні ідеї щодо історії, яка головним чином показує, що усі наші уявлення про дитинство насправді дуже обмежені саме нашим часом, що в минулому усе було інакше, хоча батьки найчастіше хотіли дітям "найкращого".
October 20, 2021
Easy to read and understand. Wide range of information that covers many aspects of childhood throughout the history mostly in West with a few references in the East.
October 30, 2024
Had to read for a juvenile delinquency class. Found very boring, with weak connections to today. Also, would not recommend putting it off and reading in one night.
May 16, 2025
Read this book for a class & ended up enjoying it quite a bit. I love history & this was super interesting! Some parts were a bit repetitive though.
Want to read
June 15, 2025AHCCC
December 7, 2022
5/5 stars because it is still the only book I enjoyed reading during my MSSc in child studies. It helped me delve into the notion of childhood through history.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews