Representations of Child/Childhood in the Romanian Context

Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to draw attention to the necessity and importance of educators becoming aware of the role that their representations of children and childhood play in the effectiveness and quality of the instructional-educational process. These variables are often unfairly neglected. Progressing gradually through the presentation of elements related to general characteristics, functions, and structure of social representations, all particularized to the type of representations of interest here, the chapter continues with a brief overview of how the child and childhood have been perceived over time, attempting to outline a historical and cultural perspective on how these concepts have evolved. As a natural consequence, the chapter then highlights specific aspects related to representations of the child/ childhood in the Romanian context and the final part present the potential implications of exploring representations of children and childhood in the training of future educators.