DescriptionVarious examples of childhood stress and trauma in fictional literature, ethnographic, historical, and psychological works demonstrate several constructions of childhood that don’t serve the children well. These constructions include specific ideas of the “innocent” child, a stereotypical caricature manufactured by adults, and not actual portrayals of real life children. This stereotype is ignorance of the ‘real’ child, its actual needs, and the consequences to children due to adult attitudes. A second stereotype of children is as a hindrance or an inconvenience.