Childlore

Childlore is a branch of folklore comprising the cultural expressions, practices, and traditions developed and shared by children, generally during middle childhood and early adolescence.^{: 218–228} Distinct from adult-mediated forms such as fairy tales or lullabies, childlore emerges autonomously within peer groups through informal interaction in playgrounds, schools, neighbourhoods, and through digital culture.^: 10

It encompasses a wide range of verbal, physical, and social forms, including riddles, nursery rhymes, jokes, pranks, superstitions, magical play, nicknames, storytelling, and art, transmitted and adapted without adult instruction. From English rhymes like "Ring Around the Rosie" to Japanese warabe uta and Mexican corridos infantiles, childlore reflects children’s creativity, cultural adaptation, and evolving socialisation across diverse global traditions.

Academic interest in childlore began in the 19th century with collections like Mother Goose's Melodies and was later systematised by folklorists such as Iona and Peter Opie, who conducted extensive fieldwork in British schools. Researchers today study childlore not only as cultural artefact but also as a vehicle for language acquisition, emotional resilience, cooperation, and identity formation.

Contemporary childlore continues to evolve, shaped by parental supervision, urbanisation, and digital technology. Events like the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated shifts from outdoor group play to online forms such as 'TikTok challenges' and virtual storytelling. Despite these changes, childlore endures as a dynamic and adaptive expression of childhood across cultures.^: 150