Anthropology Of Childhood And Its Literature: How Stories Contribute To The Transmission Of Values And Traditions

Abstract

This article explores the relationship between children's literature and socialization through the lens of cultural anthropology, focusing on how storytelling contributes to the transmission of values and traditions to younger generations. The central hypothesis is that children's stories are not merely entertainment tools, but symbolic mediums that help construct collective identity and reinforce cultural belonging. The study examines the use of symbols, archetypal characters, and narrative structures in shaping the child's understanding of the surrounding social world, with examples from Arabic children's literature. Employing a descriptive-analytical anthropological approach, the paper sheds light on the dynamics of socialization through childhood storytelling.