A concepção de criança a partir do olhar infantil

Abstract

Studies in which the child's voice is heard are still exceptions to the rule of research, which makes the knowledge available about them limited to an adult representation of childhood. Based on this reflection, an attempt was made to identity the child's concept of childhood. The theories of Piaget, Vygotsky and Wallon provide guidelines for the definition of a methodology and for an analysis at the data collected. Two groups of children learning to read and write, from two distinct socioeconomic groups, were investigated. The groups used practically the same categories to understand childhood, using descriptions based on the diferences perceived between child and adult. However, the two groups attributed different concepts to children. Far from constituting a mere reproduction of adult concepts, the children's construction of the concept at childhood demands greater processing by the children.