1. Theories about childhood

2. Conventional Functionalist and New Right:
Children are vulnerable and need to be protected from threats such as TV, peer pressure and violence.

3. Interpretivist (Alternative)
There is no single universal experience of childhood.
Varies in time and place.
Children have their own views, can interact with adults and be constructive to family life.

4. Compare the differences
Child of professional parents living in a village.
British Asian child.
Girl.
Child of single unemployed mother living on a council estate.
White British child.
Boy.