The new edition of this established core textbook continues to give an insightful, authoritative and accessible overview of competing theoretical positions on the sociological study of childhood. The book explores the ways these theories inform key themes, including education, work, identity and agency. The study of childhood has taken on an increasingly global focus in recent years, honing in on how issues of rights, protection and development shape the lives of children and those around them at political, social and institutional levels across the world. As a result, this book guides students through the theories and research on childhood in both local and global contexts. Author Michael Wyness clearly illustrates how a study of childhood can inform sociological thinking on social crises, changes and problems such as globalisation, criminality and disruption of the social order.Written for students exploring childhood from a sociological perspective, this is the essential introduction to the topic.New to this Edition:- A broadened global focus throughout every chapter, including more on the developing world.- A revised chapter on researching children and childhood.- An updated critical appraisal of children's rights, as well as new data on child protection and schooling.- The introduction of new key readings and 'Academic Insights' boxes that explore research on important topics in more detail.

Introduction PART I: THEORISING AND RESEARCHING CHILDREN AND CHILDHOOD 1. The Social Meaning of Childhood 2. Theories of Growing Up: Developmentalism and Socialisation Theory 3. Childhood and Social Structure 4. Children and Childhood in Late Modernity 5. Researching Children and Childhood : Methods, Ethics and Politics PART II: CHILDREN IN THEIR LOCAL AND GLOBAL CONTEXTS 6. Childhood in Crisis: Social Disorder and Reconstruction 7. Children, Family and the State: Policing Childhood 8. Schooling Children and Childhood 9. Children's Work and Labour: The International Context 10. Children's Social Worlds: Culture, Play and Technology 11. Children: Their Rights and Politics 12. Children's Work and Labour: The International Context Conclusion.