Review : Analysing childhood: a nursing perspective

Abstract

■ Childhood is largely socially constructed and is subject to social and cultural change ■ Childhood is often characterised by immaturity and dependency, which may hamper the full recognition of children's rights ■ Children's nurses, as children's advocates, should develop a critical awareness of the concept of childhood ■ Children's nurses should also consider undertaking phenomenological research with children, as a means of identifying the needs of children