Education of toddlers and children in tender age in Colombia, 1870–1930

Abstract

The article analyzes the emergence of education for toddlers and children in tender age in Colombia between 1870 and 1930 to guide man from birth, both at home and at school. The history of pedagogical practice was used as a method; likewise, thematic reading was used as a methodology. Conceptually, the notion of governmentality was used to analyze the conduct of children’s behaviors from the relationships that are woven between practices, rationalities and technologies. As results, we present the individualization of childhood in two sub-stages (toddler and tender age), the development and salvation of the child’s soul as an educational purpose and the maternalization of education as a government strategy. The text ends by problematizing the current crisis in childhood education in light of the approaches of neoliberal societies, to propose other forms of guidance for boys and girls.