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Show Concept of childhood has varied m By MARGARET H. YOUNG Doctoral Student College of Family Life Utah State University LOGAN The concept of childhood has varied over time. This is reflected in the way children are treated and the concerns that society has for them. For example, "infancy" in the Middle Ages extended from birth to approximately ap-proximately age seven, at which time children were considered part of adult society. In contrast, as the 20th century emerged, childhood was extended. ex-tended. Status of children in society is evaluated by the use of social indicators such as birth rate and school enrollment. Although clothing styles are not listed with more well-known childhood indicators, they are nevertheless subtle evidence of childhood sums. Paintings Pain-tings and photographs of children through the ages show that their clothing reflected not only societal trends of each era, but also were interesting indicators in-dicators of the place children held in society. For example, in tlie Middle Ages, the Lilliputian (little adult) concept of children was clearly evident in clothing style; children were dressed as little adults. In a historical overview of children's fashions, researchers noted that in the last half of the 19th century, the practice of dressing children in adult styles gradually declined, and after World War I, children's clothing styles became more sensible. During the 1950s, childhood was considered to be a "special" period of time, and children's clothing was mostly casual and comfortable. However, during the 1960s, a more negative view of childhood was introduced, as the unpleasant realities of parenting were widely publicized. In the 70s and 80s, as young adults focused on careers and self-fulfillment, self-fulfillment, childbearing and rearing were sandwiched between careers, divorce, remarriage and blended families. Children were often viewed as a hindrance to the parents lifestyle. In his recent book. The Hurried Child, David Elkind writes that America's concept of children is now that of the "Super Kid." Elkind asserts that parents and society are pressuring even very young children to grow up quickly and be super achievers. One factor demonstrating this attitude is clothing styles selected by parents for their children. Elkind comments that, today, even tiny children wear miniature reproductions repro-ductions of adult clothing. Kiddie versions of a whole range of adult costumes, along with designer labels, are available to children. "Mom and Dad wear Reeboks, baby wears Weeboks." Reflecting on the recent past, Elkind stated that in the 1950s, clothing set children apart from adults and signaled that these were special people to be . treated with indulgence. One must wonder, in the 1990s, are children once again considered to be "little adults?" Although Americans may value their children, contemporary styles of children's clothing may indicate that parents and society no longer consider childhood a special period of time. |