Let's Start With My Definition of 'Steampunk'...

 Based on what little familiarity I had with the genre before taking Professor Danahay's Victorian Afterlives class, and what I've learned during the course of that class, my understanding of the Steampunk genre has come to require an amalgamation of steam or clock powered technology and a historical (Victorian) setting, which work together in effort to make a comment upon contemporary society. However, in my research of the genre of Steampunk for children, I found that a lot of what we’ve talked about either doesn’t apply at all, or is twisted in ways that appeal to a younger audience. 

The one element that stood out in most of my research regarding children was the exploratory element, which we see in steampunk fashion with the safari hat, long coats, buckles, goggles, vests etc.. Most of the kids steampunk I saw focused heavily on this aspect of the genre, and by extension, there was also a big focus on the inventive aspect, introducing interesting steam and clock powered devices that appeal to children. Therefore, for the purposes of discussing Steampunk as a genre for children, my definition has transformed to become a genre centred on a historical displacement with the inclusion of contemporary or futuristic technology that focus closely on the typical aesthetics of steampunk that we associate with the genre in our culture, with the particular focus on the imaginative aspect. 

Unlike perhaps some of the more hardcore 'steampunkers' who are strict about the requirements of their fan base, the children’s facet of the genre is focused on the welcoming, exploratory motive. This expansion of the genre into the realm of children’s culture allows fanatics of Steampunk to share their passions of the genre in its most basic forms, and promote an appreciation of detailed technology, fantastical inventions, encouragement of exploration, and lastly, an essentially ‘cool’ style for kids to participate in.