To understand childhood, you need to understand all of the social factors which surround it. If you are studying Early Years or Early Childhood Studies then this book is for you. It gives you an introduction to the study of childhood and the different contexts within which childhood exists. It encourages you to re-think childhood and explore it from different perspectives, whether looking at the child within the family, global perspectives or the child's own view point. This helps you understand childhood in relation to society and to develop the skills to look at childhood from a critical standpoint.