Care, Socialization And Play In Ancient Attica

Beskrivelse

Discover how infants and young children were nurtured, cared for, and socialized within the family unit of ancient Attica. This book explores the emotional involvement of parents and the role of play and toys in early childhood development.

An interdisciplinary look at childhood care and play in ancient Athens.

Care, Socialization and Play in Ancient Attica delves into the ways infants and young children were raised in the oikos, or family household. It examines whether mothers and fathers were emotionally connected to their children or if they remained distant, and considers the effects of growing up surrounded by multiple relationships.

The book also investigates how young children participated in different kinds of play during daily life, and what types of toys were created for and used by infants and toddlers. It highlights the importance of play and toys not only for development but also for their cultural and sacred roles in Athenian society.

The subtitle, A Developmental Childhood Archaeology Approach, reflects the book’s unique interdisciplinary method, merging childhood archaeology with modern developmental psychology. Drawing on a rich array of classical-period archaeological finds, the authors reconstruct the social and behavioral world of young children in ancient Greece.

Featuring a selection of previously unseen child-related artifacts, this work reveals groundbreaking evidence that challenges traditional views on child development. While the ancient childhood experience contrasts sharply with that of the 21st century, the book also uncovers striking parallels between the two eras.

Yderligere information