Research project The history of Swedish children's and youth sports

Children and young people were an important target group for physical education in the country's schools during the 19th century. In addition, young people also played an important role in the sports movement that devolved in Sweden during the late 19th century. During the post-war period, sport became by far the most popular association activity for young children, at the same time as it reached lower and lower ages. Childhood researchers have shown that during the 20th century, children ceased to be regarded as resources for the family's support to instead be the subject of upbringing, protection and care. In sports, instead, children and teenagers increasingly functioned as resources during the second half of the 20th century.

This research project examines how attitudes towards children and young people took shape in Swedish sports and how these both changed and related to other child and youth education institutions in society. Has there been anything special about how people in sports have dealt with and handled children and young people and what has affected this?

The project examines how moral attitudes towards children and young people as well as norms for what these can be exposed to, or not, have taken shape. It also looks at how children and young people in sports have been emotionalized. This way, the research project relates to childhood as well as risk management and emotional history.