ABSTRACT
In this article we search for an understanding of the ideas about childhood education in Portugal, between the end of the 19th century and the middle of the next. A set of educational journals published in Portugal were consulted. The analysis detected tendencies and nuances of the process of pedagogical modernization. Some authors defend the family environment as the most appropriate for the education of the child, highlighting the woman as mother and educator, others denounce their lack of preparation, advocate their formation and support the convenience of child education in institutions, according to modern pedagogical proposals. This last ones tended to express similar positions to those expressed in other European countries about pedagogical models specifically aimed at second childhood.
Keywords:
second childhood; early childhood education; Froebel; Montessori; education journals