In the article the importance of an individual (subjective) and social comprehension of
the child and childhood are put forward. »A child« and »childhood« are social
constructs influencing our relationship with children and their treatment. A brief survey
of the contemporary history shows how the views on children and their education
changed. The authoress is critical towards the prevalent (biologistic and universalic)
psychological theories, which with the »normalization« of the development caused also
the educational discourse to be more and more the discourse of deficits. The Reggio
approach moved from these notions, its view on the child and his abilities is optimistic,
pleading for a strong, self-confident and competent child; a child as an active co-author
of his own socialization, which he creates together with his peers and adults. The importance of »listening« to children through their »hundred languages« is pointed out;
fostering the development of the child's identity is an important objective.
|
