The concept of child development is constantly evolving; the evidence base is taken from the sometimes disparate disciplines of philosophy, biology, psychology and sociology. The theoretical debates consider the processes of human uniqueness, human similarity, change, universality, context, ecology culture and anthropology. This article explores some of these concepts and how they have developed in relation to the historical understanding of the child

Marcella Kelly Lecturer, National University of Ireland, Galway, PhD student (Child and Youth Research) Child and Family Research Centre, NUI, Galway, MSc (Nurse Education), BSc (Community Health Studies, RGN, RM, RPHN, RNT

Article accepted for publication: January 2012