#childhood

#childhood

It's possible, maybe probable, that the harrowing events of her life helped the Oscar winner become such a great actress I was at school with Brenda Fricker - we were in the same class at Loreto, St Stephen's Green - and I remember her as a sweet-natured young girl with a halo of golden curls. She was, in my recollection, favoured by the nuns as she always won prizes at feiseanna, and shone at drama and elocution.

I don't know if it's because I'm constantly comparing current times to living in the Upside Down or what, but there's just something about Stranger Things Season 5 that feels... symbolic. Bigger than the show itself. And the behind-the-scenes teaser trailer that just dropped hits on that feeling in a way that'll honestly make you super sentimental. "There's something magical about childhood," Matt Duffer says at the start of the featurette, as clips from early seasons of the show play.

The child is expected to take a specific role in that world, a place that is stable and certain. The rules and goals are set by the adults in the child's world. At the same time, at play and with its peers the child experiences a completely free world. It is open to all possibilities, even those beyond the child's physical limits. It's as if the child is free in a room, with walls, ceilings and floors that protect it from actual danger.

"I wrote what I thought was five chapters," says actor Jay Ellis, star of Insecure and Running Point, on the tentative first draft of his memoir, Did Everyone Have an Imaginary Friend (or Just Me)?: Adventures in Boyhood, firstpublished in July 2024 and now available in paperback. "Now, after writing a book, I know it was at best half a chapter," he adds, laughing.

I must admit, dear reader, that I wasn't always a fan of change -not even a little. I wouldn't say I entered this world naturally inclined toward new or unfamiliar things. Like many children, I found comfort in routine-the joy that comes from ordinary moments repeating themselves. Whether we realize it or not, repetition builds a mental framework that quietly defines our comfort zones.

In the summer of 1998, the filmmaker Darren Aronofsky could be found spray-painting stencils of the pi symbol all over his native Manhattan - a bit of guerrilla marketing for his feature debut, π (or Pi).

The Beacon Hill broker cherishes family gatherings and finds solace beside the lake, reflecting on the loss of children from the past, longing for connection.

Many millennials reflect on their school days without the easy access to water that children have today, leading to questions about their hydration levels during childhood.

Playgrounds are not peripheral spaces of leisure; they are political constructs shaped by specific ideologies about what childhood is and how it should unfold.

Camp Homeward Bound has provided refuge to thousands of homeless children over the past four decades, offering a unique summer experience free from their daily struggles.

Jackson Tejada, at age 28, reflects on his childhood experiences at Christopher's Books, where he can view his parents' past purchases, creating a connection to his literary roots.

Bill Watterson captured the private derangement of the average 6-year-old boy, creating an imaginative world filled with monsters, adventures, and absurdities that resonate deeply with readers.

Being self-employed is all I knew. At the time this photo was taken, I was doing my GCSE retakes and about to start my A-levels. I may have failed some exams, but I don't remember being that stressed about it.

The crowd exploded with applause and cheering when Anthony invited Paul Paddick up to the mic. Of course you probably know him better as Captain Feathersword, and we have to admit - it feels almost illegal to see him out of costume.

Helen wrote a batch script at age seven that accidentally racked up a $2,000 phone bill for her local library. Her early coding journey began with overcoming learning difficulties.

The designers wanted to create a bridge between the past and the present, awakening those joyful sensations with the simple act of sitting.

"Any sound was noise: the burr of the TV from next door, the ticking of a clock in another room. When one layer of sound reduced its volume, another rose from beneath it, each intrusive and underscored by my own unending thoughts."

Sir David Jason reflected on his experiences growing up in North Finchley, emphasizing how playing the fool became a way to overcome shyness and bullying.

A high chair is transformed from a mere functional object into a vessel for emotion, memory, and meaning, showcasing the power of design in branding.

"In the medieval context, children were often seen as innocent yet insightful beings, capable of expressing truths and moral lessons that adults might overlook or forget."

Dyer's humour has never precluded seriousness about jazz, film, photographs, paintings, DH Lawrence and much besides. But as the title suggests, Homework is a duty in earnest, a task he's compelled (if only by himself) to complete.