With a unique focus on inquiry, Thinking Critically About Child Development presents 74 claims related to child development for readers to examine and think through critically. Author Jean Mercer and new co-authors Stephen Hupp and Jeremy Jewell use anecdotes to illustrate common errors of critical thinking and encourage students to consider evidence and logic relevant to everyday beliefs. New material in the Fourth Edition covers adolescence, adverse childhood experiences, genetics, LGBT issues for both parents and children, and other issues about sexuality, keeping readers up to date on the latest scholarship in the field.

In the updated Third Edition of Thinking Critically About Child Development, previously titled Child Development: Myths and Misunderstandings, Jean Mercer offers 59 essays that confront popular misconceptions and fallacies about the field. Intriguing vignettes and critical thinking questions frame each essay, encouraging readers to think like social scientists and become better consumers of media messages and anecdotal stories. Timely topics and DSM-5 references make the book an engaging supplement for both chronologically and topically arranged child development texts.

This accessible guide to child development is for students of degrees and foundation degrees in Early Years, Early Childhood Studies and related disciplines and for early years practitioners. *Introduces the context of child development *Develops an understanding of development and of how early years practitioners can support this *Explores the biological/social debate, and the importance of holistic development *Examines factors affecting development and includes a chapter on reflective practice *Considers the complexity of children′s development and argues that is is not always a straight forward progression This fifth edition: *is updated in line with the new EYFS and the updated Development Matters; *is updated to include child development learning from 0-8 *includes up-to-date guidance on assessment processes in the Early Years; *includes a new section with key knowledge on well known theories of child development.

The new edition of this best selling book looks critically at the 2012 Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum and draws attention to issues that underlie the EYFS and the implications for children from birth to five. With its questions for reflection and discussion, further reading and useful websites, Early Years Foundations is essential and informative reading for students studying any early years or early childhood course, or working towards Early Years Teacher Status. Among the many challenges facing early years professionals, there are continual dilemmas arising between perceptions of good practice, the practicalities of provision and meeting OfSTED requirements. This exciting and innovative new edition supports practitioners in thinking through their responsibilities in tackling some of the many challenges they encounter, for example, that children are still perceived as 'deficit' in some way and in need of 'being school ready' rather than as developing individuals who have a right to a childhood and appropriate early education. Chapters explore the rationale behind early years practice based on theory and research, covering important topics including: Prime and specific areas of learning and development Observation and assessment Pedagogy Working with parents Difference and diversity Contributors: Sue Bingham, Gill Boag-Munroe, Liz Brooker, Helen Clarke, Anne Cockburn, Rosie Flewitt, Jan Georgeson, Michael Jones, Lilian G. Katz, Caroline Leeson, Paulette Luff, Jayne Osgood, John Parry, Jane Payler, Karen Phethean, Linda Pound, Anne Rawlings, Jonathan Rix, Sue Rogers, Anita Soni, Suzy Tutchell, Judith Twani, Jane Waters, David Whitebread "Early Years Foundations: Critical issues is a timely and valuable edition for the early childhood bookshelf, offering high quality scholarship combined with deep understanding of early childhood practice. This is a book that values early childhood practitioners as critical partners and experts in young children's learning and development. At a time of fluctuating policy, the authors remind us of the need to advocate for what matters in early childhood and they suggest ways that we can provide excellent experiences for young children with potential to enhance their lives for the long term." Jane Murray PhD, Senior Lecturer, University of Northampton, UK "There seems to be a proliferation of publications currently in the field of early years education and care but this book stands out amongst the crowd for a number of reasons. In particular, the status of the three editing authors means that the content of the book is to be trusted to be both informed and thorough in its attention to detail, and this second edition has been carefully updated to incorporate recent reforms and initiatives. The editing authors' insistence on the creation of an early years text that centres on a critically reflective review of contemporary policy and research can only help to build the argument for a better future for young children's care and education. This is a book in which there are many chapters worthy of recommendation and which will form the basis for future debates and publications but Rogers' scholarly work on Enabling Pedagogy encapsulates some core research, essential to our understanding of our work with children, and is a strong and refreshing contribution, while Katz' notion of 'standards of experiences' for young children should give us all food for thought." Dr Kathy Goouch, Reader in Education, Canterbury Christ Church University, UK "This book is not another bland 'how to do it' manual to accompany the EYFS, it goes much further in offering a truly challenging critique. Helpfully contextualised within the changing policy and political context, each chapter focuses on a different aspect of the curriculum framework and is written by someone with recognised expertise in the field. The strengths of the current EYFS are recognised but the issues and tensions are also made explicit with arguments backed up by theory and research evidence. This should be essential reading for experienced practitioners as well as Early Childhood Studies students." Denise Hevey, Professor of Early Years, University of Northampton, UK.

The underlying causes of behavior is a unifying theme integrated throughout this introductory text. Contents are organized around the interaction of four sets of causal factors: biological, cognitive, intrapsychic (personality processes), and environmental. Consistent with the theme of the 1990s as the Decade of the Brain, the text stresses psychobiological interactions (the mind and body interacting to influence one another). At the same time, a balance of traditional psychology topics and theories are covered. An emphasis on multi-cultural perspectives, minorities, women, and critical thinking is stressed.

This book aims to help practitioners understand more about how children learn and to reflect on the implications of that understanding for supporting learning in the early years.