The baby boomers and postwar suburbia remain a touchstone. For many,
there is a belief that it has never been as good for youngsters and
their families, as it was in the postwar years. Boom Kids explores the
triumphs and challenges of childhood and adolescence in Calgary's
postwar suburbs.
The boomers' impact on fifties and sixties Canadian life is
unchallenged; social and cultural changes were made to meet their needs
and desires. While time has passed, this era stands still in
time--viewed as an idyllic period when great hopes and relative
prosperity went hand in hand for all.
Boom Kids is organized thematically, with chapters focusing on:
suburban spaces; the Cold War and its impact on young people; ethnicity,
"race," and work; the importance of play and recreation; children's
bodies, health and sexuality; and the night, resistances and
delinquency. Reinforced throughout this manuscript is the fact that
children and adolescents were not only affected by their suburban
experiences, but that they influenced the adult world in which they
lived.
Oral histories from former community members and archival materials,
including school-based publications, form the backbone for a study that
demonstrates that suburban life was diverse and filled with rich
experiences for youngsters.