Firmly established as a classic text in the sociological study of childhood, the new edition of this textbook continues to offer an authoritative and accessible overview of competing theoretical positions and the ways in which they inform key substantive themes, including education, work, identity and agency. The study of childhood has taken on an increasingly global focus in recent years, honing in on how issues of rights, protection and development shape the lives of children and those around them at political, social and institutional levels across the world. As such, this book guides you through the theories and research on childhood in both local and global contexts, illustrating how the study of childhood can inform sociological thinking on social crises, changes and social problems. Key features include: an authoritative overview of the field; an assessment of the ethical and methodological issues in researching children's lives; an emphasis on children's agency and the role they play throughout every chapter, including more on the developing world; an updated chapter on researching children and childhood; new key readings and 'academic insights' boxes that explore research on important topics in more detail.