Laws and polocys regulate what children can and cannot do. For example the age of consent for sex, education untill 18 and age restrictions on films. Sociologys taking a march of progress view argue that legal restrictions are in place to protect children, improving their experience of childhood. Aries points out that in pre-industrial society there were no childrens laws, instead they were mini adults. Wheras todays laws describe children as "vunerable people", they carnt and should not do the same things as adults. The march of progress view argues that legal restrictions shelter children from the adult world, so they can experience happy , carefree childhoods.
A03- Child liberationists a conflict theory are critical of todays laws restricting what children can and cannot do, claiming the laws are a form of social control over children. Laws maintain age patriarchy, making children dependent on adults. And therefore, laws have a negative impact on childrens ecperiences