Children and young people

The members of the Children and Young People Network share a common aspiration: to contribute to research and knowledge-building that will ultimately lead to improving children's and young people’s opportunities, experiences and outcomes.

Rooted in a recognition of the immense diversity in the lives of children and young people, our research responds to an urgent need to better understand those lives from multiple perspectives, and to explore and identify ways of supporting children and young people as they negotiate the challenges, transitions and opportunities of these vital phases of their development.

Our mission is to work collaboratively to advance understanding and positively impact the lives of children & young people. Our vision is to cultivate a dynamic and thriving research community that is committed to improving the life experiences with and for children & young people. 

Education and Development

This theme explores how children and young people learn in early years settings, schools, higher education and informal environments. It includes research on inclusive education, professional learning, home-school learning and pedagogy. Work in this area examines cognition, motivation, physical and social learning, creativity, motor and neurological development, language and literacy, as well as educational wellbeing, psychology, assessment and SEND.

Health, Lifestyle and Wellbeing

This theme focuses on the physical and emotional health of children and young people. It includes research on mental health, reproductive and sexual health, sensory health, sleep and school-based health. Studies address specific health conditions, interventions, safeguarding, risk, substance use and violence. Parenting, newborn care, pregnancy, feeding, sleep practices, technology use, diet, exercise, sport and exercise psychology also sit within this area.

Children’s and Young People’s Worlds

This theme examines the everyday lives, identities and environments of young people. Research considers their education, employment, citizenship, independence and activism, as well as childhood history, law, youth cultures, gender, religion, friendships and identity formation. It also explores their relationships with the environment, sustainability and their views of the future.