The article substantiates the possibilities of historical and sociological analysis for building comparative projects of dynamics and stability of phenomena of modern childhood. The urban childhood of the last decade of the last century is described through the prism of 16 sociological studies. Conclusions are drawn about three main areas of study of childhood: the behavior of teenagers in the city space is mainly beyond family control, pedestrian children and their behavior as a source of accidents, street labour and begging. The methodical features of the organisation of research of children at this stage of the history of science are described, examples of research are given in the line of the participating approach taking into account the subjectivity of young citizens.