The Role of Social Paediatrics in the 21st Century: The Yield of 50 Years of Social Paediatrics in the Netherlands

This article explores the relevance and future of social paediatrics, drawing on 50 years of experience in the Netherlands. Social paediatrics is a subspecialty focused on children's health in relation to their environment, including family, school and social networks. It requires a life-course approach and integrates preventive, curative and developmental perspectives, with a key role for the child as an active participant. The field's importance is growing amid rising chronic conditions linked to social and behavioural determinants. By addressing these complex challenges beyond the biomedical model, social paediatrics contributes to improved long-term outcomes for children by offering a more inclusive, preventive and person-centred framework.