3B027E - Childhood Through the Ages 01 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2032 | Version 0

Associated Module Information

Module Code: 3B027E
Module Title: Childhood Through the Ages
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Business Management
Faculty Sub Group: Business Management
Module Leader: Emma Wheeler
Module Team:
First Intended Intake: SEP 2026 Final Year of Intake: 2031
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 30 Credit Level: 3
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100302 - history 100455 - childhood and youth studies 100473 - health studies 100497 - psychology
HECOS Code Weighting: 20 40 20 20

Document Version Information

Version 0
Valid From 01 Sep 2026
Valid To 31 Aug 2032

Module Aims

The main aims of the module are: 

  • Aim 1 To explore the changing nature of childhood culture and how children are perceived in different societies. 

  • Aim 2 To examine key theorists who have contributed to policy and practices that shape childhood experiences. 

  • Aim 3 to introduce students to academic research and debates to prepare them for their degree progression routes. 

Content Summary

This module introduces students to the interdisciplinary study of children within society, drawing on perspectives from history, developmental and social psychology, education, arts and social policy. It is designed to help students develop foundational academic skills while exploring key themes related to childhood and the societal structures that influence children's lives.  The module provides opportunity for students to engage in early research, visual presentation and seminar skills. Individual students will choose one relevant theorist who has influenced contemporary practice and present biographical details and links to sources of reading showing awareness of how theory or professional practice has been developed or critiqued. Presentation involves students participating in a seminar group. 

History students will benefit from taking a biographical approach to learning about the significance of work by key figures throughout the last century and how societal attitudes and policies have changed. Health students will have the opportunity of studying key work on human developmental stages and professional practice.  Psychology and Child Development students will focus on key figures who have shaped our understanding of theories and impacted contemporary practices in child, family and clinical settings. 

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 4
Practical Classes and Workshops 12
Demonstration 4
Seminar 4
Groupwork 16
Formative assessment 30
Summative Assessment 60
Guided Study 170
Total Hours Selected 300

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Describe key theories and concepts related to childhood and society while reflecting on how societal structures influence children’s lives.
LO2 Demonstrate academic skills relevant for professional practice.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Portfolio 1 A portfolio containing a visual representation of researching the life and work of a relevant key pioneer, a short annotated bibliography and evidence of seminar participation. 0 4000 100 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Portfolio 1 ✔ ✔

Reading List

Week 1: 

Brooks, Libby. (2006) The Story of Childhood?: Growing up in Modern Britain. London?: Bloomsbury. 

Week 2: 

Holmes, Jeremy (2014) John Bowlby and Attachment Theory. 2nd ed. London?; New York: Routledge. 

Week 3: 

Bruce, Tina, Milda Bre?dikyte? and Pentti Hakkarainen (2017) The Routledge International Handbook of Early Childhood Play. Ed. First edition. London: Taylor and Francis.

Week 4: 

Marten, James. (2018) The History of Childhood?: A Very Short Introduction. New York: Oxford University Press. 

Week 5:  

Calder, Gideon, and Jurgen de Wispelaere (2019) The Routledge Handbook of the Philosophy of Childhood and Children. Ed. by Anca Gheaus. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. 

Week 6 

Koch, Anette Boye. “Children as Participants in Research. Playful Interactions and Negotiation of Researcher-Child Relationships.” Early years (London, England) 41.4 (2021): 381–395.