Enlightenment Redefined Childhood in Europe

Philosophers and educators in 18th-century France, England, and Germany began to view children as individuals with specific rights. The Enlightenment shifted perceptions of childhood, moving away from seeing children as miniature adults. Thinkers like Rousseau advocated for maternal breastfeeding and opposed swaddling, measures that reduced infant mortality.

John Locke argued that the state should provide care for children, transitioning from charity to systemic support. Pestalozzi, a Swiss educator, believed education should focus on self-discovery through personal activity—learning with the head, hand, and heart.

Maria Montessori, an Italian physician and educator, furthered these ideas in the 20th century. She observed that children with mental disabilities possessed unrealized potential, advocating for improved conditions and education. While these thinkers greatly advanced childhood wellbeing, the article notes the ongoing need to critically examine history and build upon past progress.