Kindheit im Wandel - Annäherungen an ein komplexes Phänomen

This contribution reflects approaches that focus on childhood and its change from different perspectives. As a starting point we high-lighten the meaning of childhood in everyday life as well as current discourses in the public and the media. A special emphasis is placed on images of childhood and developments in childhood research (particularly in the recently established sociology of childhood) that determine the understanding of and the approaches towards childhood in many respects. In addition, indicators of changing childhood in modern western societies are introduced and illustrated by examples of Austria and Germany. These indicators have been used to »stick-on label« childhood in contemporary societies - a fact that is critically discussed in the article. This underscores the absence of a comprehensive theoretical concept in the field of childhood sociology that explains childhood in the context of societal change. In the conclusions we emphasize future challenges for (a sociology-based) childhood research.