Thank you for the CI 560 Childhood Museum! Throughout the semester we have examined and cautioned against the use of the idea of childhood to serve adult needs. And yet it seems impossible to not hold an idea about what childhood is or should be and what you wish for children. After all that has…Continue Reading Guest Book
Global Changes and Children’s Lives Katz: growing Up Global, Chapters 3, 6, and 7 Capitalism is often depicted as a deluge that sweeps away and drowns all that comes before it. Yet it is, of course, more complicated than that. As Stephen J. Gould pointed out years ago, Darwin was drawn to study earthworms because their…Continue Reading Gallery 205 Main Exhibition
Physical Spaces of Childhood Mitchell and Reid-Walsh: Chapters 3 and 4 Chawla: “Special Place – What is That?” Briski: Born into Brothels (film) A critically important part of Mitchell and Reid-Walsh’s work in Chapters 3 and 4 (and indeed, in the entire book) is the insistence on the following statements: Not only the materials but also the…Continue Reading Gallery 204 Main Exhibition
Virtual Spaces of Childhood Jenkins: Unlimited Freedom of Movement Mitchell and Reid-Walsh: Researching Children’s Popular Culture, Chapter 5 Rosen, The Overprotected Child Brown, Raising free-spirited black children in a world set on punishing them “Video games constitute virtual playing spaces, which allow home-bound children … to extend their reach, to explore, manipulate, and interact with a…Continue Reading Gallery 203 Main Exhibition
Toys are tools used for children’s entertainment and development, however they also serve to shape a child’s understanding of societal norms. The toy industry has marketed gender based toys, which has reinforced stereotypical ideas about the interests and roles of each gender. Have you ever thought about the differences between the “boy aisle” and the…Continue Reading Gender Based Toys
Curated by: Akiva, Yassah, Rahel, Kate-Lynn, and Gabrielle What does the types of toys and how we choose to spend our time playing say about us? According to Holland (2003), “…many girls will absorb themselves with sill and ingenuity equal to the boys in construction activities” (p. 18). Children from an early age are exposed…Continue Reading Gallery 202C Side Exhibition
Curated by: Antonina, Cara, Deanna, and Lilyanna Toys and Gender Expectations “We react harshly or impatiently to the extremes of gendered behavior we encounter when it does not match our espoused values” (Holland, 19). Children enjoy the pleasure and freedom of play, it is a natural activity for children to experience starting at young ages….Continue Reading “Boys VS. Girls” Gallery 202B Side Exhibition
This side exhibit was put together by Group A: Julia, Carrie, John, Khadyajah, and Lizzie One of the newest crazes in school-age children is the Stanley water bottles. The cups are large and colorful, and they’re popping up all over schools across much of the country. These cups cost about $45. There are many reports…Continue Reading “Peer Pressure” & Children’s Consumerism
Play and Toys as Expressions of Identity Curators–Marylynne Buford, Diane Harris, Beth Otto, Kristi Stokes Identity: The quality or condition of being the same in substance, composition, nature, properties, or in particular qualities under consideration; absolute or essential sameness; oneness. (Oxford English dictionary) How do play and toys influence a child’s identity? Do children express…Continue Reading Gallery 202 Main Exhibition
Curated By: Yassah, Kate-Lynn, Rahel, Akiva, and Gabrielle Early Conversation with Children about Sexuality Warning: “TEACH YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT SEX OR THE INTERNET WILL” Are you uncomfortable having conversations with your children about sexuality? Yes, it is uncomfortable, but it has to be done. Having age-appropriate topics relating to our relationships, bodies, and feelings can…Continue Reading Gallery 201C Side Exhibition