The Open University

More support is needed for families affected by parental imprisonment, according to a new study from The Open University and YSS.

18 July 2023

Families with children across the UK are missing out on vital support to help them cope with the impact caused by having a parent in prison, according to research from The Open University’s Children’s Research Centre and YSS. The two-year study funded by Worcestershire County Council, surveyed 68 families across the UK, to better understand […]

Children and teenagers can carry out valuable wildlife research – here’s how

7 March 2023

Dr Maria Aristeidou is a lecturer at The Open University in technology enhanced learning – here she talks about the part children and teenagers can play in wildlife research through citizen science projects. The environment is in crisis. Young people are calling for environmental action and requesting more education about the environment and the climate […]

Actress, Angelina Jolie holding a copy of the book, Know Your Rights and Claim Them

Amnesty International book supported by OU research publishes today

2 September 2021

A book by Amnesty International, Angelina Jolie and Professor Geraldine Van Bueren about children’s rights is published today. Original conception of Know Your Rights and Claim Them was shaped by The Open University’s Children’s Research Centre’s (OUCRC) report, which explored the representation of children’s rights from discussion through to illustration and interpretation. After nearly two […]

OU partners with YSS to research the impact on children when a parent is in prison

2 June 2021

The Open University’s (OU) Children’s Research Centre has partnered with charity, YSS to conduct a two-year study into the impact on children, young people and their families when a parent or carer is in prison. The Families First project, which is funded by Worcestershire County Council, aims to improve services that support families affected by […]

Teach your child through creative play

18 June 2020

Although select year groups have returned to nursery and school, there are still a large proportion of parents continuing to educate their children from home. Open University (OU) academics from the School of Education, Childhood, Youth and Sport (ECYS) have joined forces to provide their tips on creative play – a form of learning that […]

Advice on supporting your child during self-isolation

25 March 2020

John Oates, Professor of Developmental Psychology at The Open University, writes about how to cope with children being at home during this period of self-isolation, with advice and helpful suggestions on supporting them through this difficult and confusing time. It probably came as a shock hearing that schools will be closing, on top of all […]

Linda’s story: A non-traditional route to academia

22 November 2019

Linda, 62, is a PhD researcher at the OU. Following a successful career working with young people and sport, she’s turned to research. “I’ve not approached academia in a traditional way. I’m 62, so I’m ancient! I was secure within my professional world and don’t have the same confidence as an academic as I had […]

The Open University’s children’s rights report supports book by Amnesty International UK

19 November 2019

The Open University’s Children’s Research Centre (OUCRC) has launched a report ‘informed by children’ to mark the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). The findings will support a book by Amnesty International UK (AIUK) to educate and empower children and young people. Following months of studies with […]

On the death of a baby: Parents experience of grief and loss

15 October 2018

Dr Kerry Jones is a Lecturer in End of Life Care and researches bereavement across the whole life span. In this article, she debunks some common misconceptions and outlines ways to support parents who are going through this loss. “ It doesn’t matter how many babies we do or don’t have, you can’t ever replace […]

Needs of children with seriously ill parents are being neglected, says OU report

28 March 2018

Lucy is 16, and her Mum was diagnosed with breast cancer a year ago. Although she’s got older siblings she is the only child living at home and has ended up taking on some caring responsibilities to help her Mum. The stress and upset of this family health crisis has caused Lucy to suffer with […]

OU News

Category: Childhood