Kids’ Culture: A Definition and Overview
Kids’ culture is a term used to refer to any cultural practices, values, beliefs, and norms which are developed by and for children and adolescents. It can be seen as a distinct and separate culture from that of adults, with its own unique characteristics and practices. This article will provide a definition of kids’ culture, outline its history, and provide references for further reading.
Definition
Kids’ culture is defined as the cultural practices, values, beliefs, and norms developed by and for children and adolescents. It is a distinct culture from that of adults, with its own unique characteristics and practices. Kids’ culture is often rooted in children’s interests, experiences, and identities, and can be seen as a way of expressing their own identity and culture. It is usually created and shared within peer groups, often through creative activities such as music, art, and literature.
History
The concept of kids’ culture has been studied by scholars for several decades. Early theories focused on the idea that children and adolescents have their own distinct culture, distinct from adults. In the 1970s, scholars began to focus on the idea of kids’ culture as a distinct subculture, with its own shared values, beliefs, and norms. This was seen as a way of expressing children’s own unique identities and culture.
In the 1980s, the concept of kids’ culture became more widely accepted, and scholars began to focus on the importance of understanding kids’ culture in order to better understand the experiences and developmental needs of children and adolescents. The 1990s saw a further shift in the focus of kids’ culture, with a greater emphasis on the importance of creativity and self-expression in kids’ culture.
References
Corsaro, W. (1993). The sociology of childhood. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Kohlberg, L. (1981). The philosophy of moral development. San Francisco: Harper & Row.
Newman, B. (1996). The development of culture. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Vygotsky, L. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Weinberg, M. (1996). Kids’ culture: A handbook of information and resources. New York: Garland.