The main tendencies of the current stage of social and economic development are considered in the article. The new role of childhood and family in the evolution of mankind and the development of socio-economic relations are justified. The possibility of studying childhood as an independent object of economic research is being proved. It is determined that from the position of the economy the main directions of the study of childhood are: the material living conditions of children, budgeting in the interests of children, the effectiveness of investments in the early development of children, etc. The relevance of studying certain issues related to economic conditions, factors of childhood development, the formation of childhood, the impact of investment in the development of children on the level of income in adulthood, etc. The information on the funds spent on the pod families with children ("children's budget") in the Russian Federation.