First and foremost, I’m using this as an open forum for discussion. I’m not saying any of my ideas are correct, but at this moment in time, these are my ideas. I’m still trying to figure things out, and it’s nice to have a place to write down my thoughts.

When asked to define childhood in American culture today, I found myself struggling for any concrete definition. To simply define childhood is not so difficult, a time of dependence on others, lack of responsibility and playfulness. But, to examine how American culture impacts that opens up an entirely different can of worms American culture has done something strange to childhood I think. (Yes, I’m still figuring  this out, that’s why I’m writing about it, so it might not make a whole lot of sense just yet. I could write plenty more about that feeling in general. I like using writing as a means of understanding my own thoughts).

I think the concept of childhood has two aspects to it. A physical side, per say, where one is dependent on other people to survive simply because a 5 year old child could not get a job and earn income in order to get food and survive. Also, children are not fully developed and can not yet reproduce. They are limited in this sense. However, mentally, they are unlimited. They have no responsibilities that tie them down and keep them from dreaming.

One question that is raised though is what keeps adults from dreaming?  That is something that we have done to ourselves. Adults may have certain responsibilities, but that does not mean that their mind doesn’t sometimes wonder to dreams and hopes. Adults still have the ability to imagine and discover, but that part of them is often silenced by society. 

Childhood should be a time for discovery and learning through experience, but that doesn’t mean that is what it is.