Central Queensland University Education students recently prepared an installation of child-size 3D figures to promote awareness of contemporary childhood issues.

Education and Creative Arts lecturer Cecily Knight said the display explored the impact economic and social conditions had on a child’s life.

“We explored existing understandings of the contemporary child including current brain research, then the multiple contexts that affect the child’s development,” she said.

“To understand the child we need to look at the world through a number of lenses including sociological, economic, historical, technological and cultural.

“As educators, we need to be aware of the social construction of childhood and challenge what is best for the child.

Education student Heather Hayes was among those who observed children in play before creating her doll.

“The exercise took three weeks to complete with each doll representing a variety of issues that a contemporary child has to deal with in the 21st century,” she said.

The people-scape formed part of the assessment for students completing their Spring Semester of studies.

Photos: Bachelor of Learning Management students Andrew Jack and Heather Hayes created dolls to represent the contemporary child.