Alfred Street (University of Auckland Store)
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Were Friends Right Inside Kids Culture
Paperback Edition: 1/2003
Parents often remark that kids seem to be in their own little world. And if we watch carefully as they run around a playground, sit quietly and draw or work out the rules of a game, it's clear that their choices are conscious, their interaction
carefully orchestrated. Their "own little world" is one of their own deliberate creation. And what better way to understand this world than by viewing it from the inside - which is just what author William Corsaro did when he traded in his adult perspective for a seat in the sandbox alongside groups of preschoolers.To evaluate the state of childhood, many adults set their sights on the future. They focus on the ultimate goal of a successful adulthood, defining children by what they are eventually going to be, not by what they are at three, four and five years old. But when we do this, we effectively lose sight of what it's like to be a child. Indeed, missing from all the discussions on what is best for children are the voices of the children themselves. This text provides a spokesman to represent the views of children on childhood.Originally motivated by a desire to test traditional theories of child development, Corsaro approached his research with an open mind (although in retrospect, he admits that like most adults, he didn't start out taking the kids seriously enough). But he did believe that many experts often underestimated children's abilities. He just couldn't accept the notion that children were passive agents who are ultimately moulded by adults. He realized, though, that to comprehend just how much children participate in their own socialization, he needed to do more than observe from afar. He needed to enter their everyday lives - to be the best kid he could be.The journey of discovery on which Corsaro embarks as he lives among and is accepted by children is very revealing. He gradually comes to understand that a child's world is far more complex than he had ever suspected. While Corsaro was quickly satisfied that kids aren't mere passive agents, he was astonished to learn that he was documenting a creative production of and participation in a shared childhood culture, unique unto itself - that children create and abide by social constructs of their own making and thereby have enormous impact on one another.At a time when many parents fear that they cannot spend enough time with their children, and experts debate the cause and effects of various influences on healthy development, seeing childhood through the lens of a child offers fresh and revealing information vital to understanding our sons and daughters. As Corsaro calls upon all adults to appreciate, embrace and savour children's culture, he asks us all to take a cue from the children we hold so precious and understand that we're all friends, right?
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Pages : 256
Publisher : Joseph Henry Press
Subjects: Non-fiction, Social Sciences, Sociology, Psychology, Sociology: Family & Relationships, Child & Developmental Psychology