COURSE CURRICULUM

The master’s specialisation Parenting and Child Development at Leiden University provides students with an in-depth understanding of the key family and caregiving factors that influence child development. Students learn about caregiver-child attachment, parenting styles, professional caregiving practices, and overall family functioning. The program also examines historical trends in parenting advice, contemporary challenges such as the impact of digital media on caregiving, and the interplay between child characteristics, including temperament and neurobiological make-up, and environmental factors.Students acquire the tools to critically analyze the quality of research on parenting advice, parenting interventions, and child development. They also learn how to develop evidence-based preventive parenting and caregiving programs. Practical experience is gained through both the master thesis and an internship. During the thesis, students conduct research in areas such as caregiver-child interactions or laboratory-based techniques measuring attentional, behavioral, or neurophysiological responses. Internships provide hands-on exposure to organizations such as parenting advice companies, adoption agencies, youth health care institutions, and childcare organizations, allowing students to apply scientific knowledge and academic skills in real-world settings while operating independently and responsibly.The master’s project focuses on developing research skills within the broad field of Education and Child Studies. Students are assigned to a project that aligns with their interests and are supported throughout the process by resources and preparatory courses, including the Practice of Empirical Research. Dutch students with a relevant background can also qualify for NVO-registration as 'Basis pedagoog' and SKJ-registration as 'Master-pedagoog'. International students are expected to work on thesis topics within the same broad field, with available projects allocated fairly to accommodate preferences. Overall, the program combines theoretical insight, methodological training, and practical application to prepare students for careers in research, policy, and professional practice in child development and caregiving.