Course content

The course addresses changing perspectives on child and childhood research as it has unfolded both historically and still does in contemporary societies. This includes among others, a developmental approach to children and childhood as well as socially constructed. The course addresses issues both at a structural level, which have implications for children's everyday lives and childhood, as well as children's agency in defining and giving meaning to their lives, activities and relations. Central issues to explore in this course are images of children and childhood, generation, gender, identity, ethnicity, culture and the varieties of ways children live their lives in and outside institutional settings, and how childhoods are constructed and experienced across the world.

Learning outcome

This course aims to introduce students to theoretical concepts and ongoing debates in the social studies of children and childhood as well as to how children's everyday lives, welfare and politics of childhood vary across time and space.
* Present the interdisciplinary social studies of children and childhood, the historical background, concepts and contemporary perspectives, debates and critique of the approach.
* Develop knowledge about childhood as a social and cultural phenomenon, children's everyday lives and welfare as well as politics of childhood in changing societies.

Learning methods and activities

Total lecture hours: 20 hours.

Recommended previous knowledge

See required previous knowledge.

Required previous knowledge

Admittance to the course requires a bachelor’s degree in a social science or humanities discipline, or equivalent.

Course materials

Information will be given at the beginning of the semester.

Credit reductions