It is taken for granted that children's bodies may be touched by appropriate adults in order that they may be washed, fed and dressed, have their heads patted and hands held, are picked up, cuddled and kissed, and they may be disciplined by smacking.
Adults also restrict they way in which children may touch their own bodies. For example, they may be told not to pick their nose, suck their thumb or play with their genitals.
This contrasts with the sexual freedoms enjoyed by children in some non-industrial cultures such as the Trobriand Islands.

Control over children's time

Adults control the routines in children's lives. For example, they set the times when they get up, eat, go to school, come home, go out, play, watch television and sleep
Adults also control the speed at which children ‘grow up’. It is they who define whether a child is too old or too young for this or that activity, responsibility or behaviour.
This contrasts with Holmes’ finding that among Samoans, ‘too young’ is never given as a reason for not letting a child undertake a particular task.

	Created by Summer Pearce over 8 years ago

A-Level (Year 1) Sociology (2g) Childhood) Slide Set on Has the Position of Children Improved?, created by Summer Pearce on 11/01/2016.