One of the many positive consequences of the transition to a postmodern society is the increased recognition of the range of individual differences among children of the same age. This book provides a comprehensive overview of the postmodern reinvention of childhood, focusing on ages 4 through 8 years. The book's introductory chapter describes the transition from a modern to a postmodern society, focusing on the transformation of the American family. Chapter 2 offers a brief biographical sketch of the major crafters of modern childhood (Froebel, Montessori, Freud, Steiner, Piaget, Vygotsky, Erikson), a summary of their major theoretical contributions, and the implications of their work for postmodern times. The next five chapters explore the reinvention of childhood in regard to language, intelligence, personality, socialization, and normality. The book's afterword examines some of the ongoing attempts at reinvention and the lessons to be learned from these efforts. Each chapter contains references. (Author/KB)