Synopses & Reviews
Organized chronologically, A CHILD'S ODYSSEY provides a strong foundation in child development, helping readers understand and appreciate not only the science of development but also the child's unique, subjective experiences. Written by a master teacher, the book revolves around the theme of the journey-development is an odyssey, a journey with many paths and many choices-an adventure unique to every child. This book also provides a unique view of how the discipline will continue to evolve as our lives and the lives of our children change. Examples, humor, and applications are used liberally.
Table of Contents
Preface. Acknowledgements. PART ONE: PROSPECTS FOR PERSONHOOD. 1. The Study Of Child And Adolescent Development. Child Development: A Look at the Mystery. Recurring Themes and Issues in Child and Adolescent Development. Discovery: Research in Developmental Psychology. Ethical Considerations in Research. Developmental Psychology: Whats in It for Me? The Plan of This Book The Child in the 21st Century: Immigration, Custom, and Misunderstandings. The Child in the 21st Century: Talking About Our Generation. Action/Reaction: Scott: On and Off the Timetable. Action/Reaction: Its My Right to Watch What I Want. 2. Perspectives On Child Development. Could You Predict Their Reactions? Theoretical Perspectives on Child Development. Piagets Theory of Cognitive Development. Freuds Psychoanalytic Theory. Eriksons Psychosocial Theory. The Behavioral Approach. Social Learning Theory. The Information Processing Approach. Bronfenbrenners Ecological Theory. Developmental Theory: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow. The Child in the 21st Century: Chaos Theory. Action/Reaction: Give Her Back. Action/Reaction: The Temper Tantrum. 3. Mechanisms Of Change: Genetic And Environmental Interaction. Questions Without Easy Answers. Genetic Transmission. Determining Genetic Contribution. Physical Characteristics. Temperament. Behavioral Traits and Psychopathology. Shared and Unshared Environments: How Can Siblings Be So Different? Rate of Development. Intelligence. Genetic Influence on Disease. Models of Genetic Influence. The New Reality. The Child in the 21st Century: The Bell Curve: The Most Controversial Book of Our Time. The Child in the 21st Century: The New Genetics: Premises, Promises and Problems. Action/Reaction: Determining the Gender of Your Child. Action/Reaction: A Secret to Keep. Action/Reaction: "Aggressive" Genes? 4. Prenatal Development And Birth. The First Odyssey. Prenatal Development. Current Issues. Birth. Pre-maturity: Born at Risk. Looking Ahead. The Child in the 21st Century: Reproductive Surrogacy. The Child in the 21st Century: The Mystery of Pre-maturity: Not Just Poverty. Action/Reaction: Too Old to Start? Action/Reaction: Does the Child Need to Know? Action/Reaction: Under Pressure. Action/Reaction: What if Something Happens? PART TWO: INFANCY AND TODDLERHOOD. 5. Physical Development In Infancy And Toddlerhood. I Need an Instruction Book! The Newborn at a Glance. How the Infant Experiences the World. Infant States. Learning. Reflexes. Brain Development. Infant Health. Growth and Motor Development. Focus on the Toddler. Parenting Choices. Atypical Development: Early Intervention. The Child in the 21st Century: Disease Conqueredàand Reappearing. Action/Reaction: Toddler Action Alert. Action/Reaction: I Dont Want Ken and Barbie! 6. Cognitive And Linguistic Development In Infancy And Toddlerhood. An Intelligent Infant. Piagets Theory of Sensorimotor Development. Information Processing Skills. Parents and Cognitive Development. The Development of Language? How Do Children Learn Language? Encouraging Linguistic Ability. The Child in the 21st Century: Teaching Parents to Parent. Action/Reaction: How Much is Too Much? Action/Reaction: Whos The Boss? Action/Reaction: Why Isnt My Child Talking? 7. Social And Personality Development In Infancy And Toddlerhood. Setting the Stage. Emotional Development. Attachment. The Father-Child Relationship. Maternal Employment. Day Care. Many Roads to Travel. The Child in the 21st Century: Children of Depressed and Stressed Mothers: Changing the Way We Look at Attachment Problems. The Child in the 21st Century: The School of the 21st Century? Action/Reaction: Angry, Frustrated, But in Love. Action/Reaction: Split Shift. Action/Reaction: I work, butà. PART THREE: EARLY CHILDHOOD. 8. Physical And Cognitive Development In Early Childhood. The Time-Life Remover. Physical Development in the Preschool Years. Childrens Art. Nutrition: Why Preschoolers Eat What They Eat. Childrens Health: A World View. Brain Development. Cognitive Development: The Pre-operational Stage. Recent Challenges to Piagets Theory. Information-Processing Abilities. The Preschoolers Environment: Home, Television and Preschool. A Final Thought. The Child in the 21st Century: Children Testifying in Court. Action/Reaction: He Eats Only Junk Food. Action/Reaction: The Nursery School Gambit. Action/Reaction: How Much TV is Too Much TV? 9. Social And Personality Development In Early Childhood. The Land of Make Believe. Play. Parents and Preschoolers. Sibling Relationships: Is It Always "Sibil War"? Peers: A New Relationship. Gender Role Acquisition. Atypical Development: Child Abuse. The Child in The 21st Century: To Spank or Not to Spank. Action/Reaction: Saving the World From Invaders. Action/Reaction: To Intervene or Not to Intervene: That is the Question? Action/Reaction: But Hes A Boy! PART FOUR: MIDDLE CHILDHOOD. 10. Physical And Cognitive Development In Middle Childhood. Books, Baseball, and Potato Chips. Physical Development in Middle Childhood. The Stage of Concrete Operations. Information-Processing Skills. Language Development in Middle Childhood. Childrens Humor. The Elementary School Experience. Success in School. Boys, Girls, and the School Experience. The Bilingual Puzzle. Ebonics. Atypical Development: Children with Exceptional Needs. The Total Child in School. The Child in the 21st Century: Bilingual Programs: Are They Needed: Do They Work: Action/Reaction: Why Cant You Accept Me As I Am?" Action/Reaction: To Change Teachers or Not to Change: That is the Question? 11. Social And Personality Development In Middle Childhood. Through A Childs Eyes. Looking at Middle Childhood. How I See Myself: The Self-Concept and Self-Esteem. Child Rearing During Middle Childhood. The Changing Family. Best Friends. Moral Development. Pro-social and Antisocial Behavior. Atypical Development: Children and Stress. The Child in the 21st Century: Raising a Moral Child. Action/Reaction: The All American Boys Brother. Action/Reaction: That Seven-Letter Word-Divorce. Action/Reaction: Whats A Stepfather to Do? Action/Reaction: How Much Stress Can A 9-Year Old Take? PART FIVE: ADOLESCENCE. 12. Physical And Cognitive Development In Adolescence. Will the Real Teenager Please Stand Up! Adolescence. The Timing of Puberty. The Health of Teenagers Today. Nutrition, Physical Activity and Sleep. Atypical Development: Eating Disorders. Cognitive Advances in Adolescence. Adolescent Thought Processes and Risk Taking. Morals and Values in Adolescence. Sexual Expression. Adapting to Change. The Child in the 21st Century: Sex Education: Just The Facts? Action/Reaction: Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall. Action/Reaction: What Did You Find? 13. Personality And Social Development In Adolescence. Rites of Passage. The Self-Concept and Self-Esteem in Adolescence. In Search of an Identity. Achieving Emotional and Behavioral Autonomy. The Secondary School Today. Career Choice. Atypical Development: Drug Abuse and Violence. Exploding the Myths. The Child in the 21st Century: Identity, Minority Status and the Bicultural Experience. Action/Reaction: When Daniel Comes Home From CollegeàDrunk. Action/Reaction: How Much? How Soon? Glossary. References. Name Index. Subject Index.