Children's Folklore

A collection of original essays by scholars from a variety of fields-- including American studies, folklore, anthropology, psychology, sociology, and education -- this book moves beyond traditional social-science views of child development. It reveals the complexity and artistry of interactions among children, challenging stereotypes of simple childhood innocence and conventional explanations of development that privilege sober and sensible adult outcomes. Instead, the play and lore of children is shown to be often disruptive, wayward, and irrational.