Multidisciplinary Childhood Research And Its Turn

Since the 1980s,the new paradigm of childhood studies has been emerged,which produced a new phenomenon that interdisciplinary focus on the theme of childhood.It brought the change of ideas,theories and methods of Childhood Studies.So how did the new paradigm occur?The aim of this study is to analyze the process that changes occurred in childhood studies.The main methodology of this study is documentary study.Through the analysis of early childhood studies,it can be found that traditional psychology is the main discipline in childhood studies.Contrarily,anthropology,sociology and other disciplines are in relatively marginal position because they have not regarded children as their specialized research objects.Although the differences of research contends and methods in those disciplines are obvious,certain common characteristics still can be found,such as biological and cognitive orientation,adults-centered,based on the natural science research paradigm.By the 1960s,the social construction perspective of childhood studies was born,and in the 1980s,this new perspective had a great influence in childhood studies area,which led to the change of the paradigm of childhood studies.The combines of those factors drove this new phenomenon occurred.Firstly,postmodernism epistemology changed the way of thinking.Secondly,the status of children in family has been improved.Thirdly,the research paradigm in social science has changed,which led to the change of method,because the method of understanding was regarded the better way to research person and person’s activities.Although the difference of research contends and methods in those disciplines are obvious,certain common characteristics still can be found.Such as,on the perspective of research orientation,it shows that from adults-centered to children-centered;on the perspective of methods,it shows that from "cognition"to"understanding" orientation;From essentialism to constructivism:focusing on construction and generation of characteristics;on the perspective of aim,it show that from "discovering truth and law" to "building relationships".The change of paradigm of childhood studies shows a historical picture of childhood studies,which also reflects profound meanings:The discovery of a more abundant and perfect child;An autonomous,autonomous children’s world and a meaningful children’s culture;To make children and adults be co-constructors of a better life;The participation of children creates a new understanding of the world;"Childhood" as a social class can be used to dissolve patriarchy.Meanwhile,it also brings some enlightments to Childhood Studies of our country.From the perspective of social construction,the interdisciplinary childhood studies is actually the process of participating in the construction of childhood in the academic field,which constructs the image of children and the knowledge and theory of childhood.In Early stage of childhood studies,children have been constructed as the person of immature,irrational,dependent and pure,the need to be protected.Traditional socialization theory and development psychological theory are the main theories in childhood studies.The new paradigm of childhood studies tries to construct children as active social actors and agents,who have the power to produce culture.So the new ideas of children inspires the adults to change the attitudes to children and improve teaching method,such as regard children as the subjects of producing knowledge and give them more opportunities to construct their own knowledge;promote dialogue,communication of children and teachers’;emphasize the relationships between children and teachers.