If you'd like to take your interest in Family & Child Development further, why not explore some of our options?

Courses

If you would like to follow up your interest by taking a course, the OU offers a range of courses and qualifications designed to fit you.

Which type of course is best for you?

• New to undergraduate study?
• Have study experience and looking for more?

Openings

If you haven’t experienced higher education before, deciding to become an undergraduate student can be a big step. But don’t worry, the OU’s designed a programme that allows you to dip your toe in the water before committing yourself!

Understanding Children (Y156)

A course focusing on children up to the age of 11, Understanding Children follows a family growing up in the modern world and considers the choices and rights of the children.

Details of all the OU's Openings courses can be found on their openings courses page.

Which level of study is most suitable for you?

• Is studying social science or education new for you?
• Already have work or study experience in Education or Child Development?

Where to Start

An Introduction to the Social Sciences (DD100)

The social sciences are about people, how they act individually and how they act collectively. This course tackles everyday issues in an approachable and accessible ways, so that you can build on what you already know and draw on your own experience.

DD100 will help you understand some of the big issues in the contemporary world, such as changes in family, work and identity; risk and the environment; and the impact of globalisation. Course texts and carefully structured workbooks help you to improve your study skills. After this course, further study in the social sciences could lead to employment opportunities in a wide range of occupations.

Working with Children in the Early Years (E123)
Designed for people already working in an early years environment, this course looks at practice in relation to working with young children and adults - including parents and carers - and explores how young children develop and learn.

Supporting Children's Learning in the Early Years (E124)
Intended for people working in an early years environment, this course focuses on the student's role in working with young children including those identified as gifted or talented, those with special educational needs and those who have English as an additional language.

Higher level study

Family Meanings (D270)

Are families important to you in your personal or professional life, or academic studies? If so, you will know that family lives are constantly being scrutinised, but debates seem to sidestep the question of what ‘family’ means. This course provides an introduction to family studies by focusing on what ‘family’ means in our everyday lives, in family research and statistics, and policy and professional practice, drawing on varied social science, historical and comparative perspectives. The course will develop your skills in interpreting research data and will equip you to approach family studies and interventions with a sound foundation and new insights.

Working with Children and Families (K204)
Spanning the range of health, education, childcare and social care settings, this course will enable you to develop the knowledge and skills to work effectively with children and families. It will help you to understand the changing nature of childhood and family life; the provision of services; children’s quality of life; and the importance of valuing diversity. Essential legal and policy frameworks for work with children and families across the UK are examined throughout this course. You will study important issues in assessment and child protection; promoting quality parenting; services for children and families; and children’s participation, development, and rights.

Childhood (U212)
What does childhood mean in today’s world? Do popular images of children as innocent and dependent match the reality of young people’s lives at home, in school and in work? In what ways is childhood affected by poverty, ill-health and adversity? Do children have different rights from adults, and if so why? How are modern lifestyles and technologies altering their play and their identities? What are children's own roles in shaping their childhood? These are some of the questions considered in this interdisciplinary introduction to childhood and youth studies, covering ages from birth to 18 and including video case studies in three contrasting parts of the world.

Child Development (ED209)
This course shows how psychological enquiry can help us to improve our understanding of the development of young people. It will be attractive to anyone with an interest in (and concern for) children’s development, including those who work with children and who want to learn more about contemporary theories and research in this area.

Content last updated: 23/02/2006