This online module will be attractive to anyone with an interest in and concern for children and young people, including those who work with children and/or young people and who want to learn more about contemporary theories and research from a range of different disciplines that help us to understand children, childhoods and youth. The module draws on research and theories from childhood and youth studies and psychology. This interdisciplinary perspective is broader than mainstream psychology or childhood/youth modules. It is designed to introduce you to different ways of thinking about the influences on children’s and young people’s lives and their development. This module is divided into four blocks, each comprising 5-6 weeks of supported study. A 14-chapter book, An Introduction to Childhood and Youth Studies and Psychology (eds. Cooper & Tatlow-Golden, 2023), accompanies the module, and every student receives both a physical copy and a PDF.
Block 1 introduces childhood and youth studies and psychology. The units consider some of the complex influences that shape children’s and young people’s development, including their embodied experiences and how their lives are explored and understood through research.
Block 2 considers social and emotional development, spanning the development of the self (Or the answer to the question, ‘who am I?’); the role of diverse families in children and young people’s lives; the many factors that influence how we can understand and support children and young people’s mental health and psychological wellbeing; and the role of learning, schooling and education in children and young people’s lives.
Block 3 addresses aspects of diversity in contemporary childhoods and youth. It introduces ideas about the social and cultural ideologies of childhood and how these can affect children and young people’s lives. It considers core issues of disability, race, global childhoods with a focus on the global South, and gender in children and young people’s lives.
Block 4 discusses transitions and change in childhood and youth. The units consider children and young people’s new ‘hybrid’ digital lives as well as the transition from childhood and youth through adolescence and into adulthood.
In addition to the book, there are weekly interactive online activities throughout the module to support your learning. The audio and video resources have been specifically designed, recorded, filmed, and written to support the book and expand your insights. They help explain some of the key concepts and theories that the module teaches. They also include personal accounts from experts, parents, and children and young people themselves on important topics so that you can link ideas about childhood and youth with ‘real life’ issues.
You’ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module.
They’ll help by:
Online tutorials run throughout the module. While they’re not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to participate. Where possible, we’ll make recordings available.
Course work includes:
You will receive a printed full-colour book, the E104 Module Reader, An introduction to childhood and youth studies and psychology. It has 14 chapters, one on each of the key module topics and an introduction to studying childhood and youth.
You’ll also have access to a module website, which includes:
The audio recordings, films, and designed activities in this module feature OU academics, experts and professionals from across the UK’s four nations and Ireland, and from around the world. They also feature children and young people, and those who work with them, from the UK, Ireland and internationally.
All resources and content for this module, including the Reader, are designed bespoke to support your learning, and are written by experts in the field. If you are new or returning to higher education, you'll find the online activities include integrated study skills to support your learning.
You can study this module on its own or use the credits you gain towards an Open University qualification.
E104 is a compulsory module in our:
E104 is an option module in our:
Introduction to childhood studies and child psychology (E104) starts once a year – in October.
This page describes the module that will start in October 2026.
We expect it to start for the last time in October 2030.
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations, which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
There are no formal academic or experiential requirements to study this module.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an adviser.
If you would like to learn more about childhood studies, we highly recommend reading Kehily, M. J., An Introduction to Childhood Studies (3rd edn, Open University Press, 2015). This book gives an excellent and very accessible summary of the field of childhood studies.
You may also wish to explore these free OpenLearn resources to prepare for this module:
The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone, and this Accessibility Statement outlines what studying E104 involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.
To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our Disability support website.
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There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.
If your income is not more than £25,000 or you receive a qualifying benefit, you might be eligible for help with some of these costs after your module has started.
There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.
If your personal income is £25,000 or less, or you’re on certain benefits, you could qualify for a grant and OU top-up funding to cover 100% of your course fees. Apply online at the same time as you register on your module.
For more information on how to apply, visit our Part-Time Fee Grants for students in Scotland page.
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Read more about Open University Student Budget Accounts (OUSBA).
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Over 30,000 employers have used the OU to develop staff so far. If the module you’ve chosen is geared towards your job or developing your career, you could approach your employer to see if they will sponsor you by paying some or all of the fees.
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We know that sometimes you may want to combine payment options. For example, you may wish to pay part of your tuition fee with a debit card and pay the remainder in instalments through an Open University Student Budget Account (OUSBA).
We know that sometimes you may want to combine payment options. For example, you may get support from your employer to pay part of your tuition fee and pay the remainder by credit or debit card.
For more information about combining payment options, contact an adviser.
Please note: your permanent address/domicile will affect your fee status and, therefore, the fees you are charged and any financial support available to you. The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2026. Fees typically increase annually. For further information about the University's fee policy, visit our Fee Rules.
