The Importance Of Childhood

Register to read the introduction… Even as we grow into adulthood we are often still maturing mentally. Burman (2008) asserts the child has been viewed in developmental theories as biologically immature, as always developing, progressing, reaching toward adult maturity (Drewery & Claiborne 2014).
This ties in with the child’s independence as they grow older. Independence can start off small by proving you are mature enough for certain tasks like taking the dog for a walk alone. However, one of the most significant steps of independence in western societies is when the child moves out of their family home, not having to depend on their parents anymore. The environment and culture has a big effect on this move from dependence and independence.

Childhood is often thought of as a time of innocence, often oblivious to all the bad in this world, lacking in knowledge, portrayed as ‘the helpless, sweet, pure child’ (Drewery & Claiborne, 2014, p.137). However, this image can be used against the child by encouraging those who may want to abuse or take advantage of them. This is why some believe this innocence is a fantasy because children are people, with their own skills and values just like …show more content…
My childhood was rather unique when we look at it from this perspective, my mother is from Japan and my father is from New Zealand. For this reason, during my childhood, I lived in two different places. It never occurred to me until now but it feels like they were two separate childhoods because childhood is different in both countries. For example, schooling. In Japan, the school was all in one building, there was a catering system for lunch where each day the children were responsible for serving each other, we were to do the cleaning at the end of the day and during playtime, I remember playing on a gravel like field. There was also a sense of hierarchy as we were expected to talk to older children even a year older than us in a polite manner. Looking at these memories, it almost feels military like and it shows how there is less roles/responsibility and more freedom with childhood in New Zealand. Schools here usually have grassy fields, trees, no daily responsibilities and we are free to choose who to play and be friends with, regardless of age and what year level you are. Generally there is emphasis on the outdoors, and I remember being one with nature by climbing trees and playing bullrush on the fields. Although many schools