Rethinking Children's Spaces and Places - Spatial Perspectives on

In this review of Rethinking Children's Spaces and Places, the bottom line is that this book is for academics, postgraduate students and practitioners who want a rigorous reappraisal of how space and place shape children's lives. The single biggest reason to read it is its clear argument that geographical concepts of space, place and spatiality offer tools to move beyond nostalgic or demonising views of childhood; the reviewer found it thoughtful and well positioned within the New Childhoods series for provoking fresh ways to see children as active social actors.

Key Features

• Theoretical focus: Explains how geographical concepts like space and place can be applied directly to childhood studies and enrich existing debates.
• Literature synthesis: Draws on a growing body of academic work to give readers a coherent map of research on the spatiality of childhood.
• Practical relevance: Examines the spaces where children live, learn, work and play, helping practitioners rethink environments and policy assumptions.
• Global and local scales: Considers both local settings and wider global forces, so readers understand multiple spatial scales at once.
• Critical reappraisal: Challenges modernity's assumptions about childhood and argues for fuller participation of children in social life.

Who It's For

This book suits researchers in children's studies, human geography and social sciences who want a detailed conceptual treatment of how space shapes childhood. It is also useful for postgraduate students preparing essays or theses that intersect spatial theory and child-centered research.

Practitioners and policy makers seeking practical toolkits or step-by-step guidance should look elsewhere, as the text is primarily analytic and aimed at rethinking assumptions rather than offering implementation manuals.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Provides a focused theoretical lens on the spatiality of childhood, making it easier to incorporate geography into child-centred research.
• Pulls together diverse academic literature into a readable synthesis that clarifies current debates.
• Balances discussion of everyday places with attention to broader social and global processes that affect children.

Cons

• Not a practical handbook; readers expecting concrete policy tools may find the emphasis too theoretical.

Specifications

Title	Rethinking Children's Spaces and Places
Series	New Childhoods
Author / Brand	David Blundell
Subject Area	Children's Studies; Social Sciences; Geography
Focus	Spatiality of childhood; spaces where children live, learn, work and play
Approach	Theoretical synthesis and critical reappraisal

Our Verdict

Rethinking Children's Spaces and Places is a valuable, well-argued contribution for scholars and advanced students who want to apply geographical concepts to childhood research. It is good value for readers seeking conceptual clarity and a strong literature overview, though those seeking practical implementation guidance will need to supplement it with field-focused texts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book cover practical design guidelines for child spaces?
Answer. The book focuses on theory and critical analysis rather than step-by-step design guidance, so practical guidelines are limited.

Who is the author?
Answer. The text is by David Blundell and is part of the New Childhoods series.

What topics does it examine?
Answer. It examines the spatiality of childhood and the spaces and places where children live, learn, work and play across local and global scales.