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The Century of the Child (Family in America Series)

Ellen Key

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Ellen Key's (1849–1926) two-volume work Barnets århundrade (The Century of the Child) was published on New Year's Eve 1900. Key believed that the status of children in Western society would undergo a dramatic change in the century to come. Education and upbringing, she believed, would become the focal point of both family life and society.

The Century of the Child became an international bestseller and went on to influence 20th century child pedagogy. The book not only discusses upbringing and education; it also deals with family structure, gender roles, child labor, and class. Key called for the protection of mothers and children and promoted a natural approach of childrearing, along with the belief that children should be treated as individuals. She stood up for the freedom of expression and with her original new ethics model she intended to improve the child’s well-being and the education system.

(Description adapted from the online Encyclopedia and Oxford Bibliographies.)