ECE8003 Families, Children and Change (FOEDU)

Units 1.0 (Teacher Education: Early Child) Band 5

State law in Queensland (Australia) requires that all adults working/undertaking professional experience/researching with children under the age of 18, in the state of Queensland are required to possess a current suitability card (Blue Card). (See "Other Requirements" for further information.) Also see: http://www.childcomm.qld.gov.au/employment/bluecard/informationSheets.html.

Synopsis

This course examines families and children from an historical, cross-cultural, attitudinal and contemporary perspective. It is grounded in the social construction of concepts such as childhoods, gender, ethnicity, parenting, families and institutions. It affirms a variety of family forms and households, emphasises the diversity of family life and questions the value placed on children, by engaging with current demographic and sociological literature related to family and child studies. Students will examine and critically analyse the changing roles of families, children and communities, reflecting on the implications of these changes on the education and care of young children, whilst drawing on cross-cultural comparisons.