The second and fully revised edition of James and Prout's acclaimed seminal work on the study of childhood.

When the first edition of this seminal work appeared in 1990, the sociology of childhood was only just beginning to emerge as a distinct sub-discipline. Drawing together strands of existing sociological writing about childhood and shaping them into a new paradigm, the original edition of this Routledge Classic offered a potent blend of ideas that informed, even inspired, many empirical studies of children s lives because it provided a unique lens through which to think about childhood. Featuring a collection of articles which summarised the developments in the study of childhood across the social sciences, including history, psychology, sociology, anthropology, feminist and developmental studies, scholars and professionals from developed and developing countries world-wide shared their knowledge of having worked and of working with children.

Now with a new introduction from the editors to contextualise it into the 21st century, this truly ground-breaking text which helped establish childhood studies as a distinctive field of enquiry is being republished.

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When the first edition of this seminal work appeared in 1990, the sociology of childhood was only just beginning to emerge as a distinct sub-discipline. Drawing together strands of existing sociological writing about childhood and shaping them into a new paradigm, the original edition of this Routledge Classic offered a potent blend of ideas that informed, even inspired, many empirical studies of children s lives because it provided a unique lens through which to think about childhood. Featuring a collection of articles which summarised the developments in the study of childhood across the social sciences, including history, psychology, sociology, anthropology, feminist and developmental studies, scholars and professionals from developed and developing countries world-wide shared their knowledge of having worked and of working with children.

Now with a new introduction from the editors to contextualise it into the 21st century, this truly ground-breaking text which helped establish childhood studies as a distinctive field of enquiry is being republished.

"

Alan Prout discusses the place of children and childhood in the late modernity. He argues that as the general social and economic climate has been increasingly dominated by uncertainty, so there appears to be a greater cultural confusion about the appropriate form that childhood should take. There is an increasing tendency to see children as individuals with rights, however, there are also calls for, and measures to implement, the greater surveillance, control and regulation of children. This volume addresses this issue. It shows that the social, economic and technological uncertainties, and the pace of change in the late modernity, have brought child-adult relationships to the point of crisis.
The book looks at the issues involved in balancing the well-being, and future well-being of children in industrialised countries. These assessments of future wellbeing are based around recent research looking at social trends in several countries. Importantly, the book also looks at the inclusion and participation of young people in the decision-making process.

Alan Prout discusses the place of children and childhood in the late modernity. He argues that as the general social and economic climate has been increasingly dominated by uncertainty, so there appears to be a greater cultural confusion about the appropriate form that childhood should take. There is an increasing tendency to see children as individuals with rights, however, there are also calls for, and measures to implement, the greater surveillance, control and regulation of children. This volume addresses this issue. It shows that the social, economic and technological uncertainties, and the pace of change in the late modernity, have brought child-adult relationships to the point of crisis.
The book looks at the issues involved in balancing the well-being, and future well-being of children in industrialised countries. These assessments of future wellbeing are based around recent research looking at social trends in several countries. Importantly, the book also looks at the inclusion and participation of young people in the decision-making process.

Hearing the Voices of Children provides a fresh perspective on social policy. At the heart of the book is the emergence of 'children's voices' and the implications of this for social policy. The authors argue that children's voices should be heard much more strongly in the process of policy formation at all levels. Although there is growing support for this idea, it is not without opposition, and the authors themselves make many critical points about the current attempts to put it into practice.

The book is divided into four main themes: hearing children's voices; discourses of childhood; children and services; and resources for children. Childhood experts from the UK, Scandinavia, Germany and Australia, examine how assumptions and models about childhood and discuss ways in which children's voices might become more influential in shaping policy. There are many obstacles to overcome, but the contributors to this volume show that children's participation is possible, and needed, if services are to be improved.

This book is essential reading for students and academics in the field of childhood studies, sociology, social policy and education. It will also be of interest to practitioners in the social, child and youth services.

Hearing the Voices of Children takes as its main theme the emergence of 'the child's voice' and the implications of this for social policy. Each contributor explores the various new perspectives on social policy that emerge when the 'voices of children' are listened to. The book explores social and cultural resources for children, comparing like with like across countries and continents. The editors argue that children's voices need to be taken more into account when policy is initially shaped, and that more attention needs to be paid to fostering children's active participation when implementing social policy.

This book asks how far and in what way social inclusion policies are meeting the needs and rights of children and young people. Leading authors write from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines including social policy, education, geography and sociology. The book critically examines the concepts of participation and social inclusion and their links with children and childhoods and considers the geography of social inclusion and exclusion. It explores young people's own conceptualisations of social inclusion and exclusion; and examines how these concepts have been expressed in policy at various levels. The book concludes with an agenda for progressing participation and social inclusion, both for and with children and young people. "Children, young people and social inclusion" will be of interest to academics, students and policy makers, as well as to a wide range of practitioners including teachers, youth workers, participation workers and those working in interagency settings.