Throughout history, the role and status of children within families has undergone significant transformation. Today's children experience family life very differently from those of previous generations, with modern families often revolving around the needs and wants of children.
Key Definitions:
Child-centredness refers to how modern family life often revolves around children's needs, activities and development. This represents a major shift from earlier periods when children were seen as 'economic assets' or 'little adults'.
Before the 20th century, children were often viewed as economic contributors to the family. They would work from a young age in factories, farms, or mines. Education was a luxury rather than a right and childhood as we understand it today barely existed for many.
Today, children are protected by laws, required to attend school and families often organise their schedules around children's activities. Parents invest significant time, money and emotional resources in raising children, viewing them as priceless individuals to be nurtured.
Several social changes have contributed to the rise of child-centred families:
With fewer children per family, parents can devote more resources to each child. The average UK family size has decreased from around 6 children in 1800 to 1.7 today.
Children no longer contribute economically to households but instead represent a significant cost. Parents invest in their children's future through education and extracurricular activities.
Laws protecting children's rights and welfare, compulsory education and restrictions on child labour have all contributed to the special status of childhood.
According to the Child Poverty Action Group, the cost of raising a child from birth to age 18 in the UK is approximately £152,000 for a couple and £185,000 for a lone parent. This includes housing, childcare and education costs. This significant financial investment reflects how children have become 'economically worthless but emotionally priceless' as described by sociologist Viviana Zelizer.
We can observe child-centredness in several aspects of modern family life:
In recent decades, there has been a noticeable trend of young adults returning to live in the parental home after initially moving out. This phenomenon, known as 'boomerang children', represents another significant change in family dynamics.
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), over 25% of young adults aged 20-34 in the UK live with their parents – approximately 3.5 million people. This figure has increased by over 40% since 1996. The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated this trend.
The return of adult children can create both challenges and benefits for families. Parents may experience financial strain and delayed 'empty nest' freedom, while also enjoying continued close relationships. Young adults may feel a loss of independence but gain financial stability and emotional support.
The boomerang phenomenon is driven by several interconnected factors:
Skyrocketing house prices and rents, particularly in cities, make independent living unaffordable for many young adults. The average UK house price is now around 8 times the average annual salary.
Increased participation in university education means more young people leave home later or return with student debt. The average student graduates with over £45,000 of debt in the UK.
Precarious employment, zero-hour contracts and economic downturns (including COVID-19) have made financial independence harder to achieve for many young adults.
The Jones family in Cardiff represents a typical 'boomerang' situation. After university, 25-year-old Emma returned home while working her first job in marketing. Her parents, both in their 50s, had to adjust their retirement plans but appreciate the help with household bills. Emma contributes to costs and helps with household tasks while saving for a deposit on her own flat. The family had to negotiate new boundaries around privacy, independence and shared responsibilities. This arrangement, while challenging at times, has strengthened their relationship and provided Emma with financial stability during the early stages of her career.
Functionalists might argue that child-centredness reflects the specialised role of the family in socialising children for modern society. The extended dependency of young adults (boomerang children) helps them prepare for complex adult roles in a changing economy. The family adapts to fulfil society's needs.
Marxists might see child-centredness as serving capitalism by creating future consumers and workers. The expensive child-centred family creates pressure on parents to work harder. Boomerang children reflect the housing crisis and economic inequality created by capitalism.
Feminists might highlight how child-centredness often places additional burdens on mothers, who typically take primary responsibility for children's emotional and practical needs. The return of adult children may reinforce traditional gender roles with mothers resuming caring responsibilities.
Postmodernists would emphasise the diversity of experiences, noting that child-centredness and boomerang patterns vary significantly across different social classes, ethnic groups and family types. They highlight the element of choice in how families organise themselves.
These changes in children's roles within families have both positive and negative aspects:
The position of children in families continues to evolve. Economic pressures, housing costs and changing cultural values will likely mean that both child-centredness and the boomerang phenomenon remain significant features of family life in the UK for the foreseeable future. These changes reflect broader social transformations and demonstrate how the family as an institution adapts to changing circumstances.
As sociologists, we need to consider how these changes affect different types of families across social classes, ethnicities and geographical locations. The experiences of children and young adults are diverse and any analysis must take into account these variations while recognising the broader social patterns.
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