childhood has NOT improved

Question 1

toxic childhood

Answer 1

• technological and cultural changes have damaged children’s physical, emotional and intellectual development
• e.g. junk food and testing in school
• concerns about young people’s behaviour - UK is top league tables for obesity/self-harm/substance abuse

Question 2

inequalities among children

Answer 2

• not all share the same experiences - children of different nationalities experience differences
• gender differences - boys more likely to be allowed to go out after dark
• ethnic differences - asian parents more strict towards daughters
• class differences - poorer mothers have more babies of low birth weight - delays physical and intellectual development

Question 3

inequalities between children and adults

Answer 3

• adults control children more
• control over space, time and children’s bodies, e.g. require parental consent for piercings and tattoos