Understanding Child Development

Understanding Child Development, 7e is a book designed for students in early childhood teacher preparation programs, and for teacher's in-service and those in related in-service and preparation programs. It is now available in the seventh edition, and includes many new features and benefits. For students, it introduces the unique qualities of the young child as distinguished from older children, and demonstrates how to work with young children in ways that correspond with their individual developmental level and social and cultural environment. For in-service teachers, the book offers an opportunity to evaluate their views of young children and compare them with the views presented in the book. In each section, critical social and cultural factors are related to young children's development, and factors relevant to working with children with special needs are integrated throughout. Other areas covered include developmentally appropriate practice, readiness, assessment, working with children and families from diverse cultures, development of early stages of reading, the importance of brain development, and play and learning. Content is connected directly to the importance of play and technology to a young child's learning is included, along with the popular theoretical views of learning. Many real life examples and anecdotes are included in the book in order to make theory and research come alive. The book is organized in larger sections with chapter divisions that provide the reader with easily digested segments of material. Each chapter includes boxed problems for reflection and for further learning, as well as further activities, reference lists, and review questions at the end of each chapter. The book includes many examples, explanatory charts, and full color photographs, and the online resources are expanded.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: A Brief Look at the Young Child. Chapter 2: Development and Learning Theories. Chapter 3: Studying the Young Child. Chapter 4: How Learning Takes Place. Chapter 5: Learning Through Play. Chapter 6: The Adult Role in Learning: General Characteristics. Chapter 7: The Adult Role in Learning: Family and Social/Cultural Factors. Chapter 8: Conception and Prenatal Development. Chapter 9: Heredity, Environment, and Development. Chapter 10: Birth and the First Two Weeks. Chapter 11: Infancy: Theory, Environment, and Culture. Chapter 12: Infancy: Physical and Motor Development. Chapter 13: Infancy: Affective Development. Chapter 14: Infancy: Cognitive Development. Chapter 15: The Toddler: Autonomy, Physical and Motor Development. Chapter 16: The Toddler: Affective Development. Chapter 17: The Toddler: Cognitive Development. Chapter 18: Physical Health, Safety, and Nutrition (Ages Three to Six). Chapter 19: Motor Development (Ages Three to Six). Chapter 20: The Cognitive System and Concept Development (Ages three to Six). Chapter 21: Oral Language Development and Use (Ages Three to Six). Chapter 22: Written Language: Development and Everyday Use (Ages Three to Six). Chapter 23: Intelligence and Creativity. Chapter 24: The Adult Role in Cognitive Development. Chapter 25: The Nature of Affective Development. Chapter 26: Emotional, Personality, and Social Development (Ages Three to Six). Chapter 27: The Adult Role in Affective Development. Chapter 28: Preschool to Primary: Bridging the Gap. Chapter 29: The Primary Child: Physical and Motor Development. Chapter 30: The Primary Child: Affective Development. Chapter 31: The Primary Child: Cognitive Development and Schooling. Chapter 32: A Look at the Whole Child. Chapter 33: Action for Children. Glossary. References. Index.

Review :
"The new pictures and childrenas art are outstanding. The photographs appear to be taken from real-life situations, not staged or fake, as so many are. The childrenas art is a good representation of how a childas thinking progresses." Elaine Van Lue, M.Ed., Nova Southeastern University, Winter Springs, FL "The new pictures and childrens art are outstanding. The photographs appear to be taken from real-life situations, not staged or fake, as so many are. The childrens art is a good representation of how a childs thinking progresses." Elaine Van Lue, M.Ed., Nova Southeastern University, Winter Springs, FL "Chronological coverage of each developmental period and domain is both broad and deep, research based, and substantive." Amy Huffman, M.A., Guilford Technical Community College, Jamestown, NC "Puts an equal emphasis on the three areas of growth and gives several strong examples of the connection between sensory, motor, and brain development." Becky Mangin, Colorado Community Colleges Online, Denver, CO "The new pictures and children's art are outstanding. The photographs appear to be taken from real-life situations, not staged or fake, as so many are. The children's art is a good representation of how a child's thinking progresses." Elaine Van Lue, M.Ed., Nova Southeastern University, Winter Springs, FL "The content of the materials are very in depth. The materials are outlined in the manner in which individuals develop. Yes, the text parallels with the way in which this course is approached as well as how humans develop over time..." "This text is inclusive and diverse, based on current theory and research and is accurately presented. The theoretical foundation throughout the book is excellent. The theory based application that is integrated throughout is also a plus."