1. Changing Childhood in a Globalizing World
Prof Alan Prout
University of Warwick

2. ‘New’ children?

3. A new version of childhood is being fabricated
“In these contemporary images issues of gender, class, poverty, ethnicity and family life are signalled and (sometimes) confronted. The children are diverse. They are sometimes victims but they are also victors. They have emotional range. They are active, aware, judgmental and complex.”
Prout, The Future of Childhood, 2005:12

4. What drives the changing character of childhood?
No single factor
Demography
Economics
Politics
Socio-technical
All are increasingly global in character

5. Five Big Issues for the Next 25 Years
Demographic change
Diverse life circumstances and life-chances
Plural socialisation
Individualisation: consumption, voice and choice
Surveillance and regulation

6. World demographic picture Proportion of children (0-14) in population (2007, World Population Prospects, UN)
2005
World: 28.3
Africa: 41.4
Latin America: 29.8
Asia: 28.0
Oceania: 24.9
N. America: 20.5
Europe: 15.9
2050
World: 19.8
Africa: 28.0
Latin America: 18.0
Asia: 18.0
Oceania: 18.4
N. America: 17.1
Europe: 14.6

7. Implications? Welfare state provision and global economic competition?
Childhood resources and the priorities of an ageing population?
Diverse children need flexible and responsive services?
Children’s participation in shaping services?
The outlook: the age of consumption is ending George Soros