Developing Thinking and Understanding in Young Children presents a comprehensive and accessible overview of contemporary theory and research about young children’s developing thinking and understanding. Throughout this second edition, the ideas and theories presented are enlivened by transcripts of children’s activities and conversations taken from practice and contemporary research, helping readers to make links between theory, research and practice. Each chapter also includes ideas for further reading and suggested activities. Aimed at all those interested in how young children develop through their thoughts and actions, Sue Robson explores: theories of cognitive development the social, emotional and cultural contexts of children’s thinking children’s conceptual development visual thinking approaches to supporting the development of young children’s thinking and understanding latest developments in brain science and young children the central roles of play and language in young children’s developing thinking. Including a new chapter on young children’s musical thinking, expanded sections on self regulation, metacognition and creative thinking and the use of video to observe and describe young children’s thinking, this book will be an essential read for all students undertaking Early Childhood, Primary PGCE and EYPS courses. Those studying for a Foundation degree in Early Years and Childcare will also find this book to be of interest.

Invaluable for anyone looking to understand young children’s thinking, this essential textbook helpfully combines introductions to theories about thinking with observations from real-life practice. The book explores underlying theories behind topics such as: the relationship between nature and nuture models of cognitive development, with ideas from key thinkers such as Piaget, Vygotsky and Bruner basic neuroscience and its application to early childhood the social, emotional and cultural context of children’s development emotional intelligence language and thought, including the use of motherese and children’s talk in pretend play whether children can think philosophically. The author accompanies every topic with observations from the classroom, supported by her own critical analysis linking theory to practice throughout.

"Jossey-Bass social and behavioral science series." Guidelines for dealing humanely with children in legal and medical settings.

[In this book, the editors] hope to present you with the latest research and thinking to help you better appreciate the complex interactions that characterize human development in infancy and childhood. [They] have placed ... emphasis on important contemporary issues and challenges, exploring topics such as understanding development in the context of current societal and cultural influences ... Attention is given to articles that also discuss effective, practical applications. [The editors] hope that this anthology will serve as a catalyst to help students become more effective future professionals and parents.-Pref.

`This is an admirable, modern textbook on child development, which is compact, beautifully organized and laid out and hence is easy to read and use. It also incorporates all the pedagogic methods which one expects in good textbooks nowadays, such as stating the aims of each chapter in bold at the beginning, together with a useful summary in a text-box and a glossary at the end of each chapter.... I was also very pleased to find that Keenan had included much of the modern thinking about child development which so many other university-level "introductions" seem, so far, to have neglected' - Young Minds `This book is well written, with a flowing narrative. It provides an excellent coverage of methods and theories in developmental psychology' - J Gavin Bremner, Department of Psychology, Lancaster University This outstanding textbook presents a comprehensive introduction to developmental psychology that is engaging, yet detailed and thorough. Covering all the major topics in child development, the book offers a grounding in the principles which govern research and theory in contemporary child development, and surveys the theories and research methods which are essential to developing a firm knowledge of the field. Key features include: ? Coverage of the child's 'theory of mind' under the rubric of social development; ? an introduction to 'emotion regulation' in the chapter on emotional development; ? Coverage of some key theories such as 'dynamic systems theory' and 'evolutionary psychology'. Ideal for students taking a first course in child or lifespan development, the book assumes little or no background in the subject.

"Furman leads us step-by-step from the first emotionally dependent crucial relationship between the mother and her baby through the maturing child's need and ability to form new and different relationships. This work is valuable reading for prospective parents, those who are already parents, and anyone working with children." --Robert D. Gillman, M.D.