Childhood studies first ever essay !! need help structuring

The module i am currently studying is called Perspectives on childhood. And for my first essay it asks me to firstly write a introduction to issues concerning concets of childhood in terms of ideology, discourse and social construction. But, i have no idea what is meant by this considering my lecturer is very poor at explaining. Then i must basically compare either cross-cultural or historical perspectives on childhood with contemporary childhood, i was thinking historical seems to be a little bit easier. But, don't know how to link it to contemporary childhood. Then lastly i must write a comparison with dominant discourses of childhood in the UK showing the changes and continuities in discourses of childhood over time and space, yet again no idea what this means.

So if anyone doing this course could help me to understand in simple terms what i must do that would be very much appreciated.