Childhood in China

This insightful book offers a thorough exploration of Chinese children's experiences at home and in educational settings, based on observations by American experts, laying a foundation for future research on childhood in China.

Childhood in China offers an insightful exploration of the experiences of Chinese children both at home and in educational settings. This volume is the result of a visit by thirteen American experts in child development, who were sponsored by the Committee on Scholarly Communication with the People’s Republic of China. Their journey involved observing and interviewing a diverse group of children, teachers, educational administrators, and parents across twenty-eight schools in China. William Kessen, the chairman of the delegation, has expertly compiled their findings into a cohesive narrative that serves as a valuable resource for future research on childhood in contemporary China.

The book delves into various aspects of child development, examining life within families, nurseries, kindergartens, primary schools, and middle schools. The authors provide detailed observations on a range of topics, including formal curriculum, social and personality development, teaching methods, and the dynamics of children’s interactions with both peers and adults. This comprehensive approach allows readers to gain a deeper understanding of the educational landscape and social context in which Chinese children are growing up.

Through its rich detail and thoughtful analysis, Childhood in China paints a vivid picture of what it means to be a child in the People’s Republic of China. The contributors, skilled in child observation, succeed in conveying the complexities and nuances of childhood experiences, making this volume an essential addition to the study of child development and education in a rapidly changing society.