Excerpt
This book presents a comprehensive overview of growth and development during the first three years of life. It is designed primarily as an introductory text for courses in infant development, infant care, and early intervention. The increasing popularity of courses on infant development in institutions of higher education throughout the United States is a reflection of the interest and attention currently devoted to infant development by the academic community and the general public. The development and expansion of early-intervention programs and child-care programs throughout the United States have increased the demand for a cadre of professionals who are knowledgeable about infant development. Anyone interested in learning about infants should find the third edition of
Infant Development informative and helpful.
This edition is a completely updated and reorganized version of the previous text. In response to requests from reviewers and consumers, some of the chapters from the second edition have been combined in order to make room for additional material on other topics. Research literature on almost all aspects of infant development continues to expand. A new chapter on Perceptual Development has been added to reflect the burgeoning research and theoretical literature on infant sensory and perceptual capacities. Additional material on brain development has also been included. Each chapter has been extensively reviewed and carefully revised to include new information from theory and research.
Following the format of the previous editions, the material is organized topically, with a chapter on each developmental area. One of the unique features of this text continues to be the extended coverage of physical development, including the latest growth charts. Although coverage of nutrition, health, and safety has been reduced somewhat, these topics continue to receive important emphasis. The text is devoted primarily to typically developing infants, but the coverage on infants with special needs continues to be an important emphasis. A concerted effort has been made to achieve a balance between theory, research, and practical information. Suggestions for enhancing infant growth and development are incorporated and highlighted in the various chapters. We have tried to use terminology that reflects caring, sensitivity, and respect for infants and families everywhere regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, culture, and developmental abilities.
Through the years, numerous disciplines have contributed to our knowledge and understanding of infant development. This edition has been designed to retain the original interdisciplinary perspective. Information from child development and family relations, psychology, pediatrics, nursing, nutrition, biology, and other disciplines has been incorporated into the various chapters. The quotations from classical and contemporary literature that introduce each chapter are designed to add interest and express a major theme. We have tried to be objective in our coverage of infant development and base our conclusions on research and theory. If our coverage of any topic appears to be one-sided or uneven, it is due to an oversight rather than our own particular biases.
Several features used in the book will facilitate student understanding and learning. An introduction at the beginning of each chapter summarizes the basic topics that are covered. Important terms are highlighted and ,carefully defined as they occur in the text and are listed at the end of each chapter. Real-life examples are used to illustrate difficult concepts. Photographs, drawings, and tables are sprinkled throughout the book to illustrate and summarize important information. References to Internet Web sites containing supplementary information on various topics in the text have been added. A summary of the main points under each major heading is included at the end of each chapter.
In this edition, Cindy McGaha joins Charles Snow, the author of the first two editions, as coauthor. She is a rising young professional in the field of Child Development and Family Relations who has expertise in infant development and is especially interested in infants and young children with disabilities.