Professor Robert Winston, series presenter
Thirteen years ago the BBC set out on an ambitious project: to follow the lives of twenty-five children after their birth at the Millennium.
In these special two programmes presented by Professor Robert Winston we discover how our families have changed and how our children are preparing to leave their childhood behind and enter their teenage years.
You'll discover how the children are preparing for the greatest change in their lives—and how their parents will need to let them go—to grow as adults.
As we pass the halfway point in this ambitious 20-year TV experiment the two programmes consider the most important unit of all: the family.
Drawing on an unprecedented collection of extraordinary observational footage, we’ll reveal the remarkable and compelling stories of Britain’s most documented families as they look back on their lives over the last decade—and embark on a new chapter—as the children enter their teenage years.
From working mothers, to single parent dads and the rise of the blended family, you’ll explore dramatic changes towards family life and explore the wider shifts every family can relate to.
Child of Our Time begins on Wednesday 27 February at 9pm on BBC One, with the second episode at the same time the following night. Read more about the episodes below or visit the BBC's Child of Our Time pages.
Order your free booklet and learn more about the programmes
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Download your free 'Child of Our Time: Becoming a Teenager' booklet
Download a free booklet exploring key aspects of childhood and teenage life.
Read nowDownload your free 'Child of Our Time: Becoming a Teenager' booklet -
OU on the BBC: Child of Our Time 2013: Growing Up
The first episode of 2013 follows several of the children preparing to become teenagers and sees how parents and grandparents cope.
Read nowOU on the BBC: Child of Our Time 2013: Growing UpLevel: 1 Introductory
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OU on the BBC: Child of Our Time 2013: Changing Families
In the second programme we look at how some of our children—and their parents and grandparents—have coped with the changes in their family.
Read nowOU on the BBC: Child of Our Time 2013: Changing FamiliesLevel: 1 Introductory
More Child of Our Time on OpenLearn
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Child of Our Time: Try our surveys
How does your sense of self compare with other people? How good are you at performing complex tasks? How do you and your children cope with stress? Try our surveys to find out
Take part nowChild of Our Time: Try our surveysLevel: 1 Introductory
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Child of Our Time 2010: The children's stories
Look back at the children as they were during the last series in 2010—what do their stories tell us about child development?
Read nowChild of Our Time 2010: The children's storiesLevel: 1 Introductory
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Child of Our Time: Activities
Try OpenLearn activities and downloads made for previous Child of Our Time series.
Take part nowChild of Our Time: ActivitiesLevel: 1 Introductory
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Explore families on OpenLearn
Mum, dad and 2.4 children isn't the typical family composition in the UK any more. How are families changing? Find out more with these resources from OpenLearn.
Read nowExplore families on OpenLearnLevel: 1 Introductory
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More perspectives on childhood
We've featured a wide range of articles over the years on different aspects of childhood—see a selection here.
Read nowMore perspectives on childhoodLevel: 1 Introductory
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More about teenagers on OpenLearn
The Child of Our Time children are becoming teenagers. Find out more about teenage life with OpenLearn.
Read nowMore about teenagers on OpenLearnLevel: 1 Introductory
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Child of Our Time: Want to learn even more?
Over the years we've provided lots of references and resources for you to dig even deeper into issues around childhood and youth studies.
Read nowChild of Our Time: Want to learn even more?Level: 1 Introductory
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