Prospectus

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Education and Child Studies: Parenting and child development

Master

Welcome to the specialisation Parenting and Child Development, which is part of the Master’s Degree Programme in Education and Child Studies. Language of instruction in this specialisation is English.

This master’s specialisation focuses on the development of children within their families and in day-care centres. This is a topic of great social importance. All kinds of minor and major problems can occur in child-rearing which Parenting and Child Development experts can help prevent or resolve.

Children’s development is the result of a complex interplay of factors: the children’s genetic predisposition and the characteristics of their parents or other care-givers, and the environment in which children grow up. In this programme, students learn to unravel and analyse these factors.

Questions that occupy the minds of a Parenting and Child Development expert include:

  • Which early experiences in child-rearing carry the risk of young children developing behavioural problems?

  • Do the childhood experiences of parents impact the way in which they raise their own children?

  • What circumstances are important for the development of adopted and foster children?

  • What is the role of genetic factors and the interaction between genetic predisposition and environment?

  • How does day-care influence the emotional development of children and their attachment relations with their parents?

  • What are the causes and consequences of child abuse?

  • How can child-rearing interventions contribute to the prevention and solving of learning problems occurring in child-rearing?

  • In what way do neurobiological processes influence the behaviour of parents and children?

This master’s specialisation is aimed at students who wish to become experts in the field of children’s development within the family and in day-care centres. Students learn how attachment relations between children and parents or care-givers influence the children’s development, and what the influence is of child-rearing practices (for instance comforting, playing and setting boundaries) within the family and day-care facilities.

Timetable

For the timetable of all courses please refer to MyTimetable

Registration

NOTE As of the academic year 2022-2023, you must register for all courses in My Studymap.

You do this twice a year: once for the courses you want to take in semester 1 and once for the courses you want to take in semester 2.

Registration for courses in the first semester is possible from July. The exact date on which the registration starts will be published on the website of the Student Service Center (SSC)

Registration for courses in the first semester is possible from December. The exact date on which the registration starts will be published on the website of the Student Service Center (SSC)

The registration period for all courses closes five calendar days before the start of the course.

By registering for a course you are also automatically registered for the Brightspace module and for the first sit of the exam of that course. Anyone who is not registered for a course therefore does not have access to the Brightspace module and cannot participate in the first sit of the exam of that course.

Also read the complete registration procedure

More information

For more information you can contact our study advisers.

For Dutch students

De Leidse Masterspecialisatie Parenting and Child Development voldoet, in combinatie met de Leidse Bacheloropleiding Pedagogische Wetenschappen, aan alle eisen die gesteld worden door de Nederlandse Vereniging van Pedagogen en Onderwijskundigen (NVO) voor de registratie Basis-Pedagoog. Studenten die elders een universitaire Bacheloropleiding Pedagogische Wetenschappen hebben behaald kunnen, soms na het behalen van één of enkele extra vakken, ook in aanmerking komen voor de NVO-registratie Basis-Pedagoog. Lees de Brochure Beroepsregistraties voor alle informatie.

NB Voor personen die via het Pre-master programma Pedagogische Wetenschappen in de Master instromen geldt een aparte regeling waarmee men zich kan kwalificeren voor de registratie Basis-Pedagoog.