Book
Childhood and Adolescence: Cross-Cultural Perspectives and Applications (2nd ed.)
The article is about adaptation of immigrant children, adolescents, and their families
"Education in Modern times: from criticism of traditional authority to new idea of the person" This study is devoted to works of British philosophers of the XVII century - Tomas Hobbes and John Locke , who had a significant influence on the development of philosophy and history of childhood. Thanks largely to their works, the childhood was conceived as a historical and cultural phenomenon without which and his I (Me) some modernization of society is impossible. The Revolution in public perceptions of the child and the opportunity to think the child as adult in the context of the liberal demands of freedom and equality are directly related in the work of Hobbes and Locke with the deconstruction of paternalistic power and with the problem of interpretation of subjectivity and identity of Me in the new cultural and political meaning.
The article presents a psychological and socio-cultural analysis of contemporary childhood. It shows that in modern conditions the development of society necessitates scholars to expand the scope of analysis of childhood beyond psychological paradigm. The processes of diversification become more evident, increasing the number of recognized patterns of childhood, which cannot be evaluated from the standpoint of the norm. From the point of view of methodology it means that we need to broaden the view of childhood and take into account the analysis of social and cultural contexts. The article shows that the view of a child as a future adult (childasbecoming)should be replaced by the view of a child at present time (child as being)
The analysis of existential, social and instrumental approaches to understanding of construction of trajectory of life course by adolescents is presented; their key theses are compared; possibilities and restrictions from the point of view of understanding of meaning and developmental tasks in adolescence are studied. It has been shown that different aspects of life construction are emphasized in different approaches thus enabling to concentrate on everyday, notional aspects of life (existential approach); social representations about succession of stages, image of success, system of attitudes to adolescent’s construction of life (social approach); as well as on environmental and interpersonal resources for concrete tasks’ solution and tactics of their implementation (instrumental approach). Conclusions about strong and weak aspects of the examined approaches make it possible to specify programs for psychological and pedagogical support of adolescents in planning and realization of their life choices. Recommendations have been made; prospects of studies in the given field of psychological researches have been shown.
Twenty-four papers examine the state of early childhood development among sub-Saharan Africa's children. Papers discuss the state of young children in sub-Saharan Africa; positioning early childhood development (ECD) nationally--trends in selected African countries; early childhood care and education in sub-Saharan Africa--what it would take to meet the Millennium Development Goals; brain development and ECD--a case for investment; new threats to ECD--children affected by HIV/AIDS; ECD in Africa--a historical perspective; (mis)understanding ECD in Africa--the force of local and global motives; fathering--the role of men in raising children in Africa--holding up the other half of the sky; ECD policy--a comparative analysis in Ghana, Mauritius, and Namibia; participatory ECD policy planning in Francophone West Africa; responding to the challenge of meeting the needs of children under three in Africa; introducing preprimary classes in Africa--opportunities and challenges; inclusive education--a Mauritian response to the "inherent rights of the child"; parenting challenges for the changing African family; ECD and HIV/AIDS--the newest programming and policy challenge; supporting young children in conflict and postconflict situations--child protection and psychosocial well-being in Angola; strategic communication in early childhood development programs--the case of Uganda; the synergy of nutrition and ECD interventions in sub-Saharan Africa; the impact of ECD programs on maternal employment and older children's school attendance in Kenya; the Madrasa ECD program--making a difference; linking policy discourse to everyday life in Kenya--impacts of neoliberal policies on early education and childrearing; community-based approaches that work in Eastern and Southern Africa; whether early childhood programs can be financially sustainable in Africa; and a tri-part approach to promoting ECD capacity in Africa--ECD seminars, international conferences, and the Early Childhood Development Virtual University. Garcia is Lead Human Development Economist in the World Bank's Human Development Department, Africa Region. Pence is Director of the Early Childhood Development Virtual University and Professor in the School of Child and Youth Care, Faculty of Human and Social Development, at the University of Victoria. Evans is Director Emeritus for the Consultative Group on Early Childhood Care and Development. Index.