“No one Knows us More than We Know Ourselves” —The Image of the Child and Childhood in the Perception of Primary School Students, Grades 1–3

Abstract

The image of the child and childhood is one of the key research issues in the social sciences, constituting an important aspect that shapes our understanding of the development and upbringing of children. The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a study on the image of the child and childhood from the perspective of primary school students in grades 1–3, based on the conducted group interviews. The respondents present the image of the child and childhood in a realistic way, taking into account various concepts, visions and ways of thinking about the child. The interviewees pointed out a number of advantages and disadvantages of being a child, relating them to the special qualities of being a child and to relationships with adults. The children’s statements revealed their beliefs built on their own experiences.