Childhood Life: Movement and Medieval Times

Do you know how much you have to work just to pick up your pint and drink it? Can you imagine if the act of eating your pub grub with a knife and fork was a stressful challenge? Motor skills are everywhere and in everything we do. As an applied researcher, working predominately with schools, I have seen the general decline in how well our children can move. But why is that? What can we do to help them? How can motor skill practise help me in my old age? So many questions that you’ll get to ask and get answers to as we explore this often-underestimated aspect of day-to-day life.

Children are particularly vulnerable to health problems from challenging early life conditions, and these experiences can often become etched upon their bones. As a bioarchaeologist, Isobel will talk about her research on applying the concept of frailty to medieval child and adolescent remains to learn about their health and development during what would have been a highly turbulent and complex time for growth. This talk aims to debunk myths, reveal insights into medieval childhood, and present how studying the past helps understand the impacts of health and nutrition on growing bodies.