This chapter examines the concept of childhood from social, legal,
developmental, and ethical perspectives. It first discusses what it means to be a child and emphasizes
that childhood should not be understood merely as a temporary stage before
adulthood, but as a unique and valuable period of human life. The chapter
highlights that children are rights-bearing individuals whose existence,
development, and sense of self are shaped by the attitudes of families, society, and
institutions. It explains how
childhood has been defined in legal frameworks such as the Convention on the
Rights of the Child, the Child Protection Law,
the Turkish Penal Code, and
the Turkish Civil Code. The chapter
also addresses the importance of seeing the world through the eyes of children
and draws attention to poverty, inequality, neglect, abuse, child
labor, war, migration, and other
social problems that threaten children’s
well-being. Furthermore, it compares the worlds of children and adults,
underlining that children should not be treated as miniature adults or forced
into adult responsibilities. Overall, the chapter argues that protecting
childhood means protecting human dignity, children’s rights, and the future of society.
Atıf Sayısı :