Rethinking Children as Consumers : The changing status of childhood and young adulthood

Children are significant consumers of services such as health, welfare, educational institutions and the environment. Alongside this, the marketisation of childhood means that children are exposed to advertising and marketing through a wide range of media on a daily basis. This timely book explores childhood and consumerism through four key strands: children as consumers of services; children as consumers of space; the link between citizenship and consumption and the influences of the marketization of childhood. Examing key debates on children’s power, status and citizenship issues, it considers the wider implications of how consumerism impacts on children‘s health, well-being and life chances.

Children are significant consumers of services such as health, welfare, educational institutions and the environment. Alongside this, the marketization of childhood means that children are exposed to advertising and marketing through a wide range of media on a daily basis.

Examining key debates on children’s power, status and citizenship issues, it considers the wider implications of how consumerism impacts on children‘s health, well-being and life chances. This timely book explores childhood and consumerism through four key strands:

• children as consumers of services;
• children as consumers of space;
• the link between citizenship and consumption;
• the influences of the marketization of childhood.

will be essential reading for students, researchers, practitioners and policy makers who are interested in the topic of consumerism across early childhood, childhood, youth and society.