This landmark publication in the study of children and childhood signals the recognition of a significant area of study. Childhood studies has both matured and experienced remarkable diversification over the past twenty-five years and this Handbook, an essential guide to the subject, is an indication that childhood has become a legitimate field of study in its own right. With contributions from an international line-up of leading scholars, from across a range of disciplines including sociology, social policy, social work, education, cultural studies, history, geography and law, this collection of specially-commissioned essays maps the field whilst setting a research agenda for future study. Divided into six parts - concepts; historical and socio-economic contexts; generational relations; everyday lives; practice and participation; children's rights and place in the world - this substantive reference work charts how childhood studies has moved beyond developmental issues to focus on broader issues of children in society, as actors and agents, and as subjects of policy intervention. Providing a comprehensive overview of key theoretical and empirical work in the field, this Handbook will be an indispensable reference resource for all those concerned with the study of children and childhood.