Children Throughout the Ages

The concept of a child has changed drastically over time. In the middle ages children were considered to be a miniature adult. Children were exactly like their parents and had to act "accordingly". They did everything their parents did; nobody thought they needed special treatment or protection. Health care was poor and because of this children didn't live very long, therefore people referd to their kids as "It". Overall the concept of children wasn't anything like it is today.

In the 18th and 19th century the concept of a child started to change. People realized that children were innocent and in need of protection. Children did not work as much due to child labour laws. Even though people didn't make their children work anymore, they still got beat on quite often. In sunday school, heaven was often described to children as "a place where children are never beaten. People started child protection organizations for the health and safety of children. The concept of a child was starting to change for the better.

Now days children live in a "better" way. Children don't work due to child labour laws, and there parents caring for them. Therefore children were not seen as economic necessities, in other words they were basically economically useless. People started to recognize the emotional importance of children. Parents show love and care for their children by nurturing them. People now adopt babies for the love as appose to children that can work. As you can see the way people think of children and the way they treat children has drastically changed over the years.