Abstract In this essay I intend to explain how daily life calls into question the construction of childhood as a moment of innocence. In the main part of my assignment, I will explain the idea of ​​innocence, which began with the romantic discourse on childhood and how it has shaped our view of childhood. I will also examine two contradictory ideas about childhood innocence and guilt in Blake's poems and in an excerpt from Mayhew's book. Next I will compare the images of innocence in Barnardo's television commercials and posters. Next, I will examine the representation of childhood innocence in sexuality and criminality, and the role that age and gender play in portraying children as innocent or guilty. I will include some cross-cultural and contemporary descriptions of the key topics. At the end of my assignment, I will summarize the main points of the arguments. The concept of childhood innocence began with the Romantic view of childhood, where children were seen as pure and free from sin. The concept was greatly influenced by the 18th century French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778). Rousseau (1765) believed that children are born good and guiltless and, through life experiences, learn badness and guilt. Most parents consider their children innocent and want to protect them from the evil world we live in. This is not always easy, especially when the country they live in is at war and the children take part in it, or they live in a poor country. . War and lack of sufficient money are some of the challenges that childhood innocence faces in today's world. The idea of ​​childhood innocence exists alongside the concept of childhood guilt. Mayhew, (1861) po...... middle of document ...... n time and place' in Woodhead, M. and Montgomery, H. by John Wiley & Sons LTD/ The Open University Nabokov, V. ( 1955) Lolita in Kehily, M, J. and Montgomery, H. (2003) 'Innocence and Experience' in Woodhead, M. and Montgomery, H. by John Wiley & Sons LTD/ The Open UniversityThe Open University (2003) U212 , Childhood, Video 1 Band 3 'Representations of childhood' Milton Keynes: The Open UniversityThe Open University (2003) U212, Childhood, Video 1, Band 7 'Painted children' Milton Keynes: The Open UniversityThe Open University (2003) U212, Childhood, Audio 2, Band 5 'Children and criminal responsibility' Milton Keynes: The Open University.Warner, M. (1994) 'Managing monsters: six myths of our time' in Kehily, M, J. and Montgomery, H. ( 2003) 'Innocence and experience' in Woodhead, M. and Montgomery, H. by John Wiley & Sons LTD/ The Open University