1st Edition
Contemporary Issues in Childhood A Bio-ecological Approach
Contemporary Issues in Childhood provides undergraduate students with a comprehensive introduction to the current influences and challenges that surround childhood, families and communities. The text carefully explores the lives of children and young people to make clear the link between this particular demographic and social contexts such as family, community and society. Key theories and concepts are examined in each chapter, using Bronfenbrenner’s bio-ecological model to highlight the complex and individual nature of child development.
Written by highly experienced authors who represent a variety of professional disciplines, the book offers a comprehensive introduction to encourage critical reflection on the influences and experiences of children and childhood. A range of rich, practical examples accompany the text, in addition to discussion questions, case studies and further reading designed to support readers in reflecting on their own experiences as learners.
Contemporary Issues in Childhood is essential reading for students on Education Studies courses and Childhood, Family and Community Studies courses, as well as preservice and in-service educators. It will also be of great interest to Early Childhood Studies and Special Needs/Inclusive Studies students.
Acknowledgements
List of abbreviations
Preface
STEPHEN WARD
Foreword
MICHEAL REED AND ROSIE WALKER
Section one
Bronfenbrenner and his bio-ecological model
1 Bronfenbrenner’s ‘bio-ecological’ model and its application to understanding children’s development
TUNDE ROZSAHEGYI
Section two
Social, development and learning identities
2 Child and young person’s development: Biological, environmental and interpersonal influences
KAY BENNETT, ZETA BROWN AND TRACEY EDWARDS
3 The role of play in childhood
GRAHAM JONES AND HELEN LYNDON
4 The complexities of childhood resilience
ZETA BROWN AND JAYNE DALY
5 Being mentally healthy: children and young people navigating their mental well-being.
JOHN THAIN AND DEAN DAVID HOLYOAKE
Section three
Contributing factors to a child’s upbringing
6 Formation of partnerships: an ecological approach
IOANNA PALAIOLOGOU AND TREVOR MALE
7 Common vigilance: a perspective on the role of the community in safeguarding children.
CLAIRE M. RICHARDS AND STUART GALLAGHER
8 Child poverty and life chances
ALEX OWEN
9 How big is our society?
SARAH MANDER
Section four
Societal aspirations and expectations on children, young people and families
10 Power, inclusion and diversity
LYNN RICHARDS
11 Empowering communities: understanding policy contexts
CATHERINE A. SIMON
12 Growing up in the twenty-first century
GARY BEAUCHAMP, SUE WILKINSON, KIERAN HODGKIN, AND ANDREW PICKFORD
Biography
Zeta Brown is Lecturer in Childhood, Family and Community Studies at the University of Wolverhampton, UK.
Stephen Ward is Emeritus Professor of Education at Bath Spa University, UK.
