Sociological Definitions


These are the sociological concepts which helped guide us through the research process:
  • Agency
    Self-determination, volition, or free will. Agency is the power of individuals to act independently of the determining constraints of social structure.

  • Autonomy
    Independence or Self-government.

  • Diversity
    A variety of traits, experiences and cultures of children within and across societies.

  • Social Structure
    Relatively enduring pattern of social arrangements within a particular society, organization or group.


    Dutch Vocabulary

  • Kinderdagverblijf
    a merger between day care and nursery school. It is available for children between the ages of 0 and 4.

  • Gastouder
    A host parent. This parent usually has children of her own and entertains a group of children in her house.

  • Oppas
    A babysitter.

  • Buitenschoolse/Naschoolse Opvang
    After School Hours. This is an organization that takes care of your children after school hours and during holidays.

  • Peuterspeelzalen
    Toddler groups in the mornings for children age 2 to 4.


    The purpose of this site is to inform web users of the status of children in the Netherlands. We are not and do not claim to be experts on the Netherlands. This project was completed with limited resources and time. This site was designed by Lindsey Heines, Melissa Venture, Corey Penedo, and Dane Harbaugh as part of a collaborative web project for the first year writing seminar Children & Society at Tulane University taught by Professor April Brayfield .
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    Updated December 13, 2002
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