The Cult of the Child: A Critical Examination of Its Consequences on Parents, Teachers and Children

Serge Dupont, Moïra Mikolajczak and Isabelle Roskam
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Serge Dupont: Department of Psychology, 10 Place Cardinal Mercier, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
Moïra Mikolajczak: Department of Psychology, 10 Place Cardinal Mercier, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
Isabelle Roskam: Department of Psychology, 10 Place Cardinal Mercier, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium

Social Sciences, 2022, vol. 11, issue 3, 1-19

Abstract: The concept of the “cult of the child” highlights a radical change in child representation. Having been neglected and even disrespected for centuries, children are now valued, and their interests are placed above all others. This change in views of children, reflected in changes in laws, institutions and practices, has also spread to two pillars of our democratic societies, the family and the school, with a number of consequences for parents, teachers and children. The purpose of this article is to (1) describe the changes in thinking that have led to the cult of the child, (2) examine their consequences for children and parents, (3) examine their consequences for students and teachers, and (4) reflect on how to preserve the benefits of these changes while limiting the negative consequences.

Keywords: burnout; authoritative; permissiveness; needs; protection (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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