Includes bibliographical references and index.

SECTION 1 THE CHILD1. The Changing Nature of Childhood Shifting landscapes: children's security Multiculturalism Inclusion and children with additional needs Austerity and poverty Children as carers State of play in the UK Emerging curricula and proposed initiatives 2. The Child's Perspective Current views on children's perspective Childhood studies and children's perspectives United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and children's perspectives Challenges and tensions in listening to young children's perspectives Methods for seeking children's perspectives in research Innovative methods for eliciting the views of young children Children's involvement in the research process 3. Social and Emotional Functioning in the Learning Environment Learning, happiness and well-being Attachment and the learning environment Loss in childhood: its impact on learning Fear and love in the lives of children Supporting children's social and emotional functioning outside of the home 4. Creating Optimum Learning Environments for the Child Today's challenges Identification and assessment: reflections on practice Ethical issues in the identification and assessment of children Low achievement and underachievement Children whose first language is not English Monitoring and evaluating practice SECTION 2 THE CHILD AND THE FAMILY 5. The Changing Nature of Families Divorce, separation and step-families The importance of fathers in families Grandparents and families Working with refugee and asylum-seeking families Working with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender families 6 .The Parent's Voice Listening to parents Working with parents Parents' working patterns 7. Multi Professional Perspectives Evolving perspectives Safeguarding Challenges of multi-agency working Professionals and parents: working together Recent initiatives SECTION 3 MODERN AND EMERGING CHILDHOODS 8. Policy, Discourse and Identity Policy and practice Contemporary political ideology and philosophy Regulation, control and accountability Professionalism and professional identity 9. The Digital Child What is a 'digital child'? Digital media The affordances of digital media Starting where children are: the importance of children's learning experiences at home Children's digital lives in the new millennium E-safety for children in a digital world 10. International Perspectives International variations in practice Children and conflict Growth of technology Gender Provision for children throughout the world Economic costs of childhood The readying culture11. Contemporary Issues in a Global Society Poverty and life chances Obesity Sexualization's of children Social fears Mental health Media and materialism The emergence of neuroscience Reflections on professionalism Child-centeredness in a changing world.

This book brings readers up-to-date with the latest developments and keys issues from around the globe and explains how these changes are impacting on practice in early years and primary classrooms. Key issues in contemporary childhood are explored through three sections on The Child, The Family, and Emerging Trends, with topics including, the "Digital Child" and the rise of new technologies, children's security and the impact of poverty, austerity and conflict, the changing nature of families including LGBT homes, refugees, and asylum seekers, and the challenges of multi-agency working --

An up-to-date and global perspective exploring the socio-cultural issues facing Early Childhood today.