Module manager: Dr Michael Waring
Email: M.J.Waring@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This engaging and thought-provoking module invites you to explore the evolving landscape of childhood and youth through a critical lens. You will engage in key debates that shape how children and young people are understood across different contexts—ranging from media and social policy to critical theory and professional practice. Throughout the module, you will be encouraged to question assumptions, challenge dominant narratives, and reflect on the implications of contemporary issues affecting young people in the 21st century. The syllabus is regularly updated to ensure you are working with the most current and relevant material, helping you stay connected to real-world developments and controversies. What to expect: Interactive lectures will introduce you to major debates and theoretical perspectives in childhood studies. Seminars will provide space for discussion, reflection, and support with your assessments. You will engage with cutting-edge academic research and learn to critically analyse how childhood and youth are represented and governed in society. By the end of the module, you will be equipped with the tools to think critically about childhood and youth, and to contribute meaningfully to debates that influence policy, practice, and public understanding.
This module is designed to explore some of the central critical debates pertinent to the study of childhood and youth. The focus of this module is upon the theoretical and research implications of these debates. The module aims to be flexible and responsive to the changing contexts of childhood and youth.
The module will:
Explore emerging debates within academic research, the media, policy and practice in relation to childhood and youth
Critically evaluate the research and theoretical implications of debates related to childhood and youth
Explore how researchers and academics might respond to conflicting understandings of childhood and youth
Support students in constructing their own position in relation to key debates in the study of childhood and youth
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Demonstrate an understanding of the complex concepts, paradigms, and practices which underpin contemporary debates surrounding childhood, youth, family and its contexts.
Demonstrate a critical engagement with complex concepts, principles and values which underpin critical debates related to research into childhood and youth.
Appreciate and explain the uncertainty, ambiguity and limitations of current concepts, principles and values relating to childhood, youth and family and their contexts.
Appreciate and explain the ecological factors affecting children and young people’s lives, integrating and evaluating perspectives from various disciplines and stakeholders.
Skills learning outcomes:
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Critically reflect on the voice of children and young people within broader debates in the field of study and the impact of the research undertaken
Select and justify appropriate methods of enquiry and analysis when investigating issues related to childhood, youth, and family, demonstrating confidence in applying research techniques to real-world contexts.
Apply knowledge of theory and research to understand and address real-world issues
Develop and sustain a research-informed argument, showing advanced ability to critically engage with academic sources and communicate your position clearly and persuasively.
Critically evaluate contemporary research and scholarship in the study of childhood, youth, and family, drawing on a wide range of interdisciplinary perspectives to support your analysis.
Indicative Content: Given the contemporary and evolving nature of t module's contemporary and evolving nature his module, the syllabus is subject to regular updates to reflect current developments and emerging scholarship. Indicative areas of focus may include:
1. Critical Theoretical Approaches to Childhood
Examination of post-structuralist perspectives on childhood and youth.
Engagement with critical pedagogy and its implications for understanding children's agency and voice.
Exploration of childhood as a relational and socially constructed category.
2. Children and the Media
Analysis of children’s engagement with digital and traditional media, including their roles as consumers and producers.
Critical evaluation of media representations of childhood and youth.
Investigation into the intersections of online/offline identities, censorship, and exposure to sensitive content (e.g. violence, pornography).
Consideration of youth culture, celebrity, and moral panics in media discourse.
3. Education and Global Perspectives
Critical engagement with indigenous education systems and epistemologies.
Exploration of educational practices and policies from the Global South.
Comparative analysis of international education frameworks and their impact on childhood.
Debates surrounding Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC), including policy, pedagogy, and equity.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 11 | 2 | 22 |
| Seminar | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Private study hours | 176 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 24 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Student progress will be monitored via their online engagement with discussion forums and via their contribution to seminar discussions.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | . | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
LO 1, 2, 3, 4 SLO 1, 3, 4, 5
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team