Infancias cuidadoras: reflexiones y desafíos sobre el cuidado practicado por niños y niñas

This article addresses the field of study on caregiving childhoods, which seeks to understand how children learn, exercise and attribute meaning to care. The text presents a literature review of the main themes addressed in this field and the diversity of methods used in research. The article also reflects on the contradictions and ambiguities of care practices assumed by children and suggests areas for investigation, such as the relationship between care and the presence/ absence of male figures and the analysis of care in socioeconomically privileged classes. The text highlights the importance of a social and contextualized approach to the topic of caregiving childhoods, considering the complexities and diversities present in the experiences of children who assume care. The article concludes that understanding caregiving childhoods contributes to understanding the unique position of children in their family, community and institutional networks and to economic, gender and inequality issues in society as a whole.