CLAIRE DUGAN-CLEMENTS PhD: Inaugural Doctoral Lecture: ‘Grandad Sneaks Me Biscuits’: Children, Grandparents, and the Making of Shared Meaning,'

Description

This lecture focuses on the perceptions of children aged 3–5 and adults aged 55+, exploring how their unique and individual experiences shape intergenerational understanding, including the significant role grandparents play in young children’s lives. Drawing on a social constructivist framework supported by phenomenology, the lecture explores the concept of a shared “intergenerational meeting place” in which children and grandparents contribute equally to meaning-making and understanding. The lecture also considers how grandparents navigate the delicate balance of “being there”, by providing support for their adult children and grandchildren without interfering.

Dr Claire Dugan-Clements is a Senior Lecturer in Health (Childhood, Youth and Families) at The University of Northampton, her teaching and research centres on children and families, with a focus on health and wellbeing. Claire is particularly interested in understanding the perceptions and interactions between young children and older adults, particularly grandparents.

Dr Dugan-Clements completed her PhD under the supervision of Professor Jane Murray and AP Dr Alison Ward

Period	5 Jun 2025
Event type	Other
Location	Northampton, United KingdomShow on map
Degree of Recognition	Local