CHILDREN OF THE WORLD
Lack of Attention in Textbooks to
Economic and Demographic Influences on Children’s
Developmental
Pathways
Some Statistics
97% of Population Growth in Developing World
70 Million Births Annually in Developing World
86% of Children < 18 Years in Developing World
Demands on Health Care, Education, Social Support
General Differences
Industrial World
Small or Single-parent Families
Encouragement to Self-actualize
Changing Gender-role Socialization
Many Years in School
Developing (majority) World
Communal Living
Intricate Family Relationships
Responsibility Training
Traditional Gender Roles
Early Marriage and Many Children
Parenthood Differences
Industrial World
Children Provide Emotional
Satisfaction
Delayed Childbearing (female
education)
Fewer Children in Economic
Slowdowns
Developing World
Children as “Insurance” (infant
mortality)
Sons Remain with Family - Care
for
Parents
Extended Family Supports High
Birthrate
More Children in Economic
Slowdowns
Child Labor
250 Million between 5 and 14 Years Work
Collectivistic Agricultural Societies
Largest Number of
Child
Workers
Socioeconomic Status and School Drop-out
Threats to Indonesian Children
Economic and Normative Framework
Brazil - Poverty Affords Little
Choice
Africa - Poverty and…
Moral
Obligation
of Children
Skills
Training
for the Future
Contemporary Changes in Childhood
Cultural Shifts Lag Behind Economic and Demographic
Changes
Global Tends in
Families
Parent-child Relationships
Children’s Roles and Schooling
India - Traditional AND Modern Childrearing
Saudi Arabia - Resistance to Modernization
DISCUSSION:
➢ Education holds out the promise of a better life
for
children. But, some cultures demand that children contribute
through
work. How can we solve the problem of child labor without
disrespecting
cultural norms?