Child Development : Educating and Working with Children and Adolescents

by McDevitt, Teresa M.; Ormrod, Jeanne Ellis

• ISBN13: 9780131108417
• ISBN10: 0131108417
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-01-01
• Publisher: Prentice Hall

Summary

This practical book examines research and theory about children from birth to age 18. The concepts are solidly based around the activities of schools, agencies, and other settings in which the day-to-day lives of children play out. A wealth of case studies, along with a new Observation CD-ROM with video clips for each chapter, provide understanding into how children develop. By using real-life case studies and genuine feedback from children of all ages, this book provides complete coverage of the following topics: methods of inquiry in child development; physical development; cognitive development; intelligence; language development; literacy development; personal and emotional development; social understanding and moral development; development of motivation and self-regulation; a study of the family; interpersonal relationships; and growing up. An excellent resource for caregivers, child care center directors and employees, social workers, teachers, and parents.

Table of Contents

Making a Difference in the Lives of Infants, Children, and Adolescents

Methods of Inquiry in Child Development

Physical Development

Cognitive Development

Piaget and Vygotsky

Cognitive Development

Cognitive Processes

Intelligence

Language Development

Development of Literacy: Reading and Writing

Personal and Emotional Development

Social Understanding and Moral Development

Development of Motivation and Self-Regulation

Families

Interpersonal Relationships

Growing Up in Context

Glossary

References

Photo Credits

Name Index

Subject Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpts

As psychologists and teacher educators, we have been teaching child and adolescent development for many years. A primary goal in our classes has been to help students translate developmental theories into practical implications for professionals who nurture the development of young people. In past years, the child development textbooks available to us and our students have often been quite thorough in their descriptions of theory and research, but they have offered few concrete suggestions for working with infants, children, and adolescents in applied settings. With this book, we bridge the gap between theory and practice. We draw from innumerable theoretical concepts, from research studies conducted around the world, and from our own experiences as parents, teachers, psychologists, and researchers to identify strategies for promoting children's and adolescents' physical, cognitive, and social-emotional growth. Whereas the first edition of the book focused largely on strategies for educators, this second edition expands our audience to include practitioners in many professions, including infant care, health care, social work, counseling, family education, youth services, and community agencies. Furthermore, whereas the first edition focused on ages 2 through 18, we have expanded our coverage to include infancy as well. Several features make this book different from other comprehensive textbooks about child and adolescent development. In particular, the book Continually relates abstract theories to professional strategies in applied settings Not only describes but also demonstrates developmental phenomena Uses several central themes to show patterns in diverse developmental domains In the next three pages, we provide examples of how the book accomplishes these goals. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ABSTRACT UNDERSTANDING AND APPLICATION This book focuses on concepts and principles that are important to developmental theorists and to professionals who are involved in protecting and nurturing the development of children and adolescents. More so than in any other development text, in McDevitdOrmrod concepts are contexualized within schools, agencies, and other authentic settings where the dayto-day lives of children play out. And more so than in any other text, McDevitbOrmrod spells out the practical implications of developmental theory and research and provides concrete applications for those who teach and work with children and adolescents. The result is a text that is uniquely useful to those who are interested in practical applications of developmental scholarship. Professional Implications.Throughout every chapter, you will find extensive discussion of the relevance of material to teachers, child care providers, counselors, caseworkers, and others who work with children and adolescents. Most major topics contain sections that examine in depth the professional implications of the developmental research and theory being presented. As a result, the reader comes away not only understanding current views of concepts, such as how children learn to solve problems and express emotions, but also seeing the relevance and application of these ideas to working with children. Development and Practice.In addition to discussing applications throughout the text itself, we provide "Development and Practice" features that offer concrete strategies for facilitating children's development. To help readers move from research to practice, each strategy is followed by an actual example of a professional using that strategy in an authentic setting. Observation Guidelines.To work productively with children and adolescents, one must first be able to see them accurately. Knowledge of development provides an essential lens through which professionals must look if they are to understand children. One of the foundational goals of this text is to help professi