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Child development: birth to adolescence

What are babies thinking? How do children learn so much? Why do adolescents do the things they do? This module reveals the fascinating answers using the latest evidence. Covering topics such as language, morality, play, empathy, creativity and cooperation, you’ll learn how children undergo revolutions in their thinking and social skills, and you’ll explore the uniqueness of human childhood and the experiences that shape their future. Drawing on psychology, anthropology, and evolution, you’ll understand childhood from an interdisciplinary global perspective. Complete with a rich blend of media and interactive activities, the module offers an accessible, engaging introduction to child development.

Modules count towards OU qualifications

OU qualifications are modular in structure; the credits from this undergraduate module could count towards a certificate of higher education, diploma of higher education, foundation degree or honours degree.

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Module

Module code

E225

Credits

Credits

  • Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.
  • One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.
  • You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.
  • For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.
60

Study level

Across the UK, there are two parallel frameworks for higher education qualifications, the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Northern Ireland and Wales (FHEQ) and the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). These define a hierarchy of levels and describe the achievement expected at each level. The information provided shows how OU module levels correspond to these frameworks.
Level of Study
OU SCQF FHEQ
2 9 5

Study method

Module cost

Entry requirements

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What you will study

This module nurtures your sense of curiosity into an evidence-based understanding of how children around the world grow, develop, and adapt. As part of your learning, you’ll develop skills that go way beyond child development, empowering you to see the world from different perspectives, to scrutinise the claims people make, and to think for yourself. By exploring child development in a cross-cultural context, you’ll be better prepared for a world where we are increasingly likely to exchange ideas and meet people from anywhere across the globe. Above all, this module is a celebration of children’s lives: what children can do, how they think, and the diversity, complexity, and richness of their experiences.

The module has three sections.

The early years
From birth to 5 years old, children undergo remarkable changes in how they behave, think, and learn. You’ll explore the significance of early experiences, how children begin to read other people’s minds and learn language, and the importance of play, imitation, and discovery. You’ll also look at the role that cultural differences and caregivers have in shaping children’s experiences, and how children begin to shape the world around them.

Middle childhood
Between 6 and 12 years of age, children consolidate and expand upon what they have learned in their early years, building on their understanding of the physical world around them, relationships, play, and language. Middle childhood also sees children develop a new repertoire of increasingly sophisticated social, cognitive, and cultural skills. In this section, we explore children’s growing sense of right and wrong and the norms that regulate their moral thinking and behaviour, how their sense of self is tied to the group they belong to, and the roles of intergroup contact, cooperation, and empathy in bringing groups together. We will also look at children’s imagination, creativity, problem-solving, and the role memory plays in children’s daily lives and in telling the story of who they are.

Adolescence
The period between 13 and 18 years brings unique challenges and opportunities. Thriving in this phase of life is not always easy. Adolescents are trying to figure out who they are and who they want to be, as well as balance the demands of fitting in, standing out, and measuring up. Cognitively, socially, and neurologically, adolescence is not a single snapshot in time but a transitional period. It is marked by increased interest in the self, in relationships, and in finding one’s place in society. As adolescents begin to enjoy more adult-like rights and privileges, they face new responsibilities and obligations. This change occurs at a time when they are pivoting away from the family and towards a wider peer group in preparation for becoming independent young adults. Despite these challenges, adolescence can be a period of great personal exploration, innovation, and optimism.

You will learn

You will learn about the remarkable insights into children’s lives that contemporary research is revealing, the technological advances that allow us to follow their experiences in new detail, and the ways in which children around the world are similar and the ways in which they are different. You’ll be introduced to the people who have changed the way we think about children and childhood; what makes childhood unique for humans compared with other species; the methods researchers use to uncover the secrets of development; and what the current debates are and the big unanswered questions.

Vocational relevance

This module is relevant for anyone working with infants, children, young people, or those whose vocations influence the lives of children. Educators, parents, policy-makers, clinicians, early years practitioners, or anyone with an interest in how children learn will benefit from gaining an evidence-based understanding of child development. The assessment, through tutor-marked assignments and the end-of-module assessment, requires the application of knowledge to practical issues in the lives of children and young people.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

You&/courses/modules/e225/39;ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module. They&/courses/modules/e225/39;ll help by:

  • marking your assignments and offering detailed feedback to help you improve
  • providing individual guidance, whether that&/courses/modules/e225/39;s for general study skills or specific module content
  • guiding you to additional learning resources
  • facilitating online discussions between your fellow students in the dedicated module and tutor group forums.

Online tutorials run throughout the module. Where possible, we&/courses/modules/e225/39;ll make recordings available. While they&/courses/modules/e225/39;re not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to participate.

Future availability

Child development: birth to adolescence (E225) starts once a year – in October.

This page describes the module that will start in October 2025.

We expect it to start for the last time in October 2032.

Regulations

As a student of 快猫视频, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations which are available on our website.

Course work includes:

3 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs)
End-of-module assessment


Entry requirements

There are no formal academic or experiential requirements to study this module.

The module is designed to be accessible to anyone interested in child development, including those with little or no previous experience studying this area.

Register

Start End England fee Register
04 Oct 2025 Jun 2026 拢3892.00

Registration closes 11/09/25 (places subject to availability)

This module is expected to start for the last time in October 2032.

Additional Costs

Study costs

There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.

If your income is not more than £25,000 or you receive a qualifying benefit, you might be eligible for help with some of these costs after your module has started.

Ways to pay for this module

Open University Student Budget Account

快猫视频 Student Budget Accounts Ltd (OUSBA) offers a convenient &/courses/modules/e225/39;pay as you go&/courses/modules/e225/39; option to pay your OU fees, which is a secure, quick and easy way to pay. Please note that 快猫视频 works exclusively with OUSBA and is not able to offer you credit facilities from any other provider. All credit is subject to status and proof that you can afford the repayments.

You pay the OU through OUSBA in one of the following ways:

  • Register now, pay later – OUSBA pays your module fee direct to the OU. You then repay OUSBA interest-free and in full just before your module starts. 0% APR representative. This option could give you the extra time you may need to secure the funding to repay OUSBA.
  • Pay by instalments – OUSBA calculates your monthly fee and number of instalments based on the cost of the module you are studying. APR 5.1% representative.

Joint loan applications

If you feel you would be unable to obtain an OUSBA loan on your own due to credit history or affordability issues, OUSBA offers the option to apply for a joint loan application with a third party. For example, your husband, wife, partner, parent, sibling or friend. In such cases, OUSBA will be required to carry out additional affordability checks separately and/or collectively for both joint applicants who will be jointly and severally liable for loan repayments.

As additional affordability checks are required when processing joint loan applications, unfortunately, an instant decision cannot be given. On average the processing time for a joint loan application is five working days from receipt of the required documentation.

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Employer sponsorship

Studying with 快猫视频 can boost your employability. OU courses are recognised and respected by employers for their excellence and the commitment they take to complete. They also value the skills that students learn and can apply in the workplace.

Over 30,000 employers have used the OU to develop staff so far. If the module you’ve chosen is geared towards your job or developing your career, you could approach your employer to see if they will sponsor you by paying some or all of the fees. 

  • Your employer just needs to complete a simple form to confirm how much they will be paying and we will invoice them.
  • You won’t need to get your employer to complete the form until after you’ve chosen your module.  

Credit/debit card

You can pay part or all of your tuition fees upfront with a debit or credit card when you register for each module. 

We accept American Express, Mastercard, Visa and Visa Electron. 

Mixed payments

We know that sometimes you may want to combine payment options. For example, you may wish to pay part of your tuition fee with a debit card and pay the remainder in instalments through an .


Please note: your permanent address/domicile will affect your fee status and, therefore, the fees you are charged and any financial support available to you. The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2026. Fees typically increase annually. For further information about the University&/courses/modules/e225/39;s fee policy, visit our .

This information was provided on 04/04/2025.

Can you study an Access module for free?

Depending on eligibility and availability of places, you could apply to study your Access module for free.

To qualify, you must:

  1. be resident in England
  2. have a household income of not more than £25,000 (or be in receipt of a qualifying benefit)
  3. have not completed one year or more on any full-time undergraduate programme at FHEQ level 4 or above or successfully completed 30 credits or more of OU study within the last 10 years

How to apply to study an Access module for free

Once you&/courses/modules/e225/39;ve started the registration process, either online or over the phone, we&/courses/modules/e225/39;ll contact you about your payment options. This will include instructions on how you can apply to study for free if you are eligible and funded places are still available.

If you&/courses/modules/e225/39;re unsure if you meet the criteria to study for free, you can check with one of our friendly advisers on +44 (0)300 303 0069, or you can request a call back.

Not eligible to study for free?

Don&/courses/modules/e225/39;t worry! We offer a choice of flexible ways to help spread the cost of your Access module. The most popular options include:

  • monthly payments through OUSBA
  • part-time tuition fee loan (you&/courses/modules/e225/39;ll need to be registered on a qualification for this option)

To explore all the options available to you, visit Fees and Funding.

What's included

The module uses a blend of printed and online material. You&/courses/modules/e225/39;ll have access to a module website, which includes:

  • a week-by-week study planner
  • module materials
  • audio and video recordings
  • interactive quizzes
  • an assessment guide
  • assessment support and guidance
  • research skills using real-world examples
  • a module, assessment and accessibility guide
  • access to online tutorials, masterclasses and forums.

You’ll receive the textbook Child development: birth to adolescence, which covers all the main topic areas of the course. A downloadable audiobook version is also available.

Computing requirements

  • Primary device – A desktop or laptop computer. It’s possible to access some materials on a mobile phone, tablet or Chromebook; however, they will not be suitable as your primary device.
  • Peripheral device – Headphones/earphones with a built-in microphone for online tutorials.
  • Our OU Study app operates on supported versions of Android and iOS.
  • Operating systems – Windows 11 or latest supported macOS. Microsoft will no longer support Windows 10 as of 14 October 2025.
  • Internet access – Broadband or mobile connection.
  • Browser – Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge are recommended. Mozilla Firefox and Safari may be suitable.

If you have a disability

The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone and this Accessibility Statement outlines what studying E225 involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.

To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our .