Child Development and Education in the Twenty-First Century

This book provides an in-depth understanding of how children’s development at different stages of their lives interfaces with the kind of education and support they need at school and home. It examines closely how education, in turn, influences their development and prepares them for an uncertain future. The chapters focus on the rapid developments of the 21st century that are changing the nature of education, especially the shift needed to being able to sift through and meaningfully deal with overwhelming volumes of information now available. This book helps readers understand how children can benefit from the digital environment while avoiding its pitfalls. Keeping in mind that in today’s world parents are getting to spend less time with their children, the authors provide research-backed ideas on how they can best enable children’s development, including their thoughts, feelings and notions of self. Given the increasing disparities, there is a perceptive analysis of how educationcan build an awareness of equity in a context marked by diversity and disadvantage. This book addresses issues such as these in a reliable, scholarly yet accessible manner, for students, young researchers and lay readers. Consequently, it is a valuable source of fundamental insights and understanding for educators, policy-makers, educational administrators and students of human and child development, education, and teacher training courses.    

Priti Joshi is Associate Professor, Department of Human Development and Childhood Studies, Lady Irwin College, University of Delhi. She has worked with children and families in different contexts. Her interests include children’s literature and education in the early years, with a focus on equity and inclusion.

Subir Shukla is with Group Ignus and works on improving the quality of education systems in India and other countries, focusing on the needs of marginalized children. He writes and publishes for children through Ignus Outreach.