21st Century Child

21st Century Child is an RTÉ television programme which follows children with cameras. It is presented by David Coleman, a practising clinical psychologist.^[2] It began on 7 April 2008.^[3] A second series began airing from 2 November 2009.^[1]

21st Century Child is similar to the BBC shows 7UP, originating in 1964, and Child of Our Time, originating in 2000.^[4]

History

In 2007, RTÉ television began following 12 newborn children and their families.^[5] It continued to do so in the years that followed.

In episode one of the first series, viewers were shown seven of the participating families. Two babies were scheduled to be born of which Oscar Devlin was the first. However, a third baby was unexpectedly born.^[6]

More babies were born in the second episode of the first series.^[7]

The final six babies were born in the third episode of the first series.^[8]

By episode four of the first series all the relevant babies had been born.^[9]

In the first episode of the second series four of the families were revisited.^[10]

The second episode of the second series showed one family with four children under the age of four.^[11]

The third episode of the second series featured relationship difficulties, bad behaviour, and potential relocations to another country.^[12]

The fourth episode of the second series featured a major decision.^[13]

In the first episode of the third series a lone parent discussed the impact of depression on parenting.^[14]

The second episode of the third series featured a stay at home father.^[15]

The third episode of the third series featured grandparents.^[16]

References