The American Child: The Transformation of Childhood Since World War II

Historical perspective shows that concerns about the ＂kids these days＂ are as old as civilization itself. Today’s young people are healthier than in the past and less likely to drink, smoke, or engage in reckless sex. The digital age has enabled them to learn, grow, and connect with the world in ways that were previously unimaginable. There is greater acceptance and understanding of diverse backgrounds, identities, and orientations, giving many children more freedom to express themselves and find communities that support them. Many young people are more politically knowledgeable and and socially aware than previous generations, speaking out about climate change, gun control, and social justice. Nonetheless, autism, attention deficit disorders, allergies, obesity, learning disorders, and online bullying, as well as suicidal ideation and self-harm, have become more prevalent. School shootings and the 24/7 news cycle make the world seem more dangerous for children than it actually is.

Drawing on a wealth of previously untapped sources along with census data, reports, and surveys, Steven Mintz and Peter N. Stearns bring much-needed historical perspective to the profound transformations that have taken place in American childhood since World War II and their impact on children’s well-being. Balancing genuine improvements with significant losses, they analyze how shifts in family life, education, and culture have reshaped childhood for good and for ill. Acutely attentive to issues of diversity in terms of class, ethnicity, gender, nationality, and race, this book places contemporary controversies-- rising rates of anxiety, depression, ADHD, and emotional distress-- within a historical context, challenging simplistic explanations that blame social media, the internet, or the decline of marriage. Instead, it reveals the deeper structural, cultural, and historical forces driving the challenges and opportunities facing today’s children.

The American Child examines the radical transformations in schooling, childrearing practices, children’s play, kids’ culture, and other areas to offer valuable insights on how childhood has changed, the consequences of those shifts, and what can be done to make childhood better.

Steven Mintz is Professor of History at the University of Texas at Austin. A leading authority on families, childhood, and the life course, he is the award-winning author of The Prime of Life: A History of Modern Adulthood, Huck’s Raft: A History of American Childhood, and Domestic Revolutions: A Social History of American Family Life, among other books. He is a past president of the Society for the History of Children and Youth and chaired the Council on Contemporary Families.

Peter N. Stearns is Distinguished University Professor of History at George Mason University. He is the author of Childhood in World History and Anxious Parents: A History of Modern Childrearing in America, among many other titles. He has worked extensively on a variety of topics in social and cultural history, including pioneering work on the history of emotions. He received an Award for Scholarly Distinction from the American Historical Association in 2021.