Examine the reasons for changes in the position of children in the family and in society

Having compulsory schooling for every child in the UK meant that children had more opportunities to achieve in their lives, get out of their way of living and class, gain social conducts and also have more rights and protection. Children have changed as they have gained a lot of importance in the family and nowadays the parent’s lives mainly revolve around their children as their education is key to getting a good job and living a good life after they leave home. Education has had a big impact on families such as many families currently move houses and areas to get into good catchment areas to get their children into good schools, giving up many of their own luxuries to afford private education and giving their children rewards for doing well at school. Compare this to when children were low in the pecking order in the family in the early 20th century as ‘Dad’ was the key figure in the household. But recently, children have got a much better relationship with their parents, with children seeing their parents as friends and equal (or sometimes less equal) to them, compared to inthe early 20th century as well where they were ruling, dominant figures in the family. Evidence suggests that this is down to more laws and state regulation favoring the children in society as there are many things parents cannot do to children such as beating and forced labour.

The changes in the welfare state and protections around children mean that they are living a more relaxed and easier childhood. The welfare state give out more benefits to parents to help children be as happy and provided for as possible, trying to wipe out child poverty altogether. This has made the current lives of children in society having more rights and chances for an equal life with adults and the line between adolescence and adulthood has become more blurred, maybe cutting out the section of people’s lives altogether? Due to laws like these on children, they are getting more from their parents, such as emotional support and material items through the use of ‘pester power’. It could even be argued that many people get more out of their parents and are happier than was ever imagined a decade ago.

 The final point about how children have changed is that they are more open to the dangerous world we live in. Due to technology and the media, children see a lot more than was ever shown a few centuries ago. This may be for the worse or for the better, through watching violent movies and sexual adverts for example – but it is too early to show if there is any real damaging effect of this. In society, this makes children more aware of the outside world we live in which is result in childhood becoming shorter and eventually perhaps running out?