ABSTRACT
The chapter explores how childhood gets constructed and finds its meaning in and through the familial social context. It stresses that the constructions of childhood and the meanings associated with them cannot be understood as isolated pieces. To get a fuller picture, an investigation into children lives as embedded in the “generationally structured family units” becomes imperative. The data intensive chapter captures insights on nature of engagement between children and parents within families. It discusses children’s contributions to household responsibilities; nature of dialogue and communication between children and adults; and parental supervision, control and disciplining. It lays bare how children show resilience in many situations of conflict and defy adult control through various means. The chapter asserts that the perceived image of an “idealized childhood” does not fully approximate the lived experiences of children.
