For courses in Early Childhood Development. While arranged in the conventional ages-and-stages format, the 4th edition of Early Childhood Development: A Multicultural Perspective by Jeffrey Trawick-Smith diverges from convention to take a multicultural approach to all facets of development in children from birth to age 8. Every topic is examined through the lens of diversity--from intellectual development to attachment patterns, from peer relations to motor skills--which is essential for our increasingly diverse student population. Coverage of atypical development and the challenges of special education is woven seamlessly through each chapter. Case studies and examples provide future teachers with a hands-on guide to how children develop, how children's skills develop, and how that development should inform sensitive, successful teaching practice. Key changes to this edition include: an expanded discussion of play and literacy in every developmental level, an expanded discussion on social policy issues (poverty, government initiatives, etc.), and a new feature--Advocacy and Public Policy Box--found in Chapters 2-17.

Table of Contents

PART I. YOUNG CHILDREN IN MULTICULTURAL PERSPECTIVE: AN INTRODUCTION Chapter 1. Studying Early Childhood Development in a Diverse World. Chapter 2. Historical Perspectives and Research in Early Childhood Development. Chapter 3. Theories of Child Development. PART II. PRENATAL DEVELOPMENT, CHILDBIRTH, AND INFANCY Chapter 4. Genetics, Prenatal Development, and Birth. Chapter 5. The Newborn. Chapter 6. Infant Physical Growth and Brain Development. Chapter 7. Cognitive Development in Infancy. Chapter 8. Infant Language and Literacy. Chapter 9. Infant Social and Emotional Development. PART III. DEVELOPMENT IN THE PRESCHOOL YEARS Chapter 10. Preschool Physical and Motor Development. Chapter 11. Cognitive Development in the Preschool Years. Chapter 12. Symbolic Thought, Play, Language, and Literacy in the Preschool Years. Chapter 13. Social and Emotional Development of Preschoolers. PART IV. THE PRIMARY YEARS IN CULTURAL CONTEXT Chapter 14. Physical Growth and Motor Development in the Primary Years. Chapter 15. Cognition and Schooling. Chapter 16. Language, Literacy, and Schooling. Chapter 17. Social and Emotional Development in the Primary Years. PART V. FAMILIES IN CULTURAL CONTEXT Chapter 18. Parents, Families, and Children: A Multicultural Perspective.