Child of our Time series on BBC One

A new 2-part OU/BBC series – the two programmes were shown at 9pm on consecutive nights, Monday 3^rd and Tuesday 4^th April. (Note, BBC One Wales showed the second programme at 10:40pm on Tuesday 4^th.) Available to view on iPlayer until the end of April.

The series was commissioned for the University by OMIL, the OU Nominated Academics are Tyrrell Golding, Dr Naomi Holford and Andy Rixon, and the Media Fellow is Fernando Rosell-Aquilar.

Episode 1:

Since the year 2000 the BBC has followed the lives of 25 children born across the UK, to find out what makes us who we are. Now aged 16, Professor Robert Winston and Professor Tanya Byron chart the incredible transformation that has taken place since the last series.

In Episode 1, we explore how their changing brains and bodies influence this new age of discovery – from finding love and taking risks, to forming friendships and sexual identities. As our teenagers navigate the perils and pleasures of adolescence we uncover how our experiences at 16 can shape our lives forever.

Episode 2:

Professor Robert Winston and Professor Tanya Byron follow our teens as they step out into the adult world, juggling 24/7 social media, changing families and their looming GCSE exams. Since our teens were born, the digital world has transformed around them. In a bold experiment we delve into our teenagers’ phones to reveal the impact of constant connectivity on friendship, sleep and anxiety, and explore how they cope with the challenges of life, to build their dreams for the future.

Free OU booklet to accompany the series

Open Media and Informal Learning (OMIL) has produced a FREE 24 page booklet Young People: Changing times which looks at many aspects of young people’s lives and the teenage years.
To order a free copy call 0300 303 2061 or go to www.open.edu/openlearn/childofourtime16

OpenLearn also has extensive content in connection with the series subject areas and information about supporting and helping young people. Visit www.open.edu/openlearn/childofourtime16