Includes bibliographical references and index.

1 Studying Early Childhood Development in a Diverse World -- 2 Research and Assessment in Early Childhood Development -- 3 Theories of Child Development -- 4 Genetics, Prenatal Development, and Birth -- 5 The Newborn -- 6 Physical Growth of Infants and Toddlers -- 7 Cognitive Development of Infant and Toddlers -- 8 Infant and Toddler Language and Literacy -- 9 Infant and Toddler Social and Emotional Development -- 10 Preschool Physical and Motor Development -- 11 Cognitive Development in the Preschool Years -- 12 Symbolic Thought: Play, Language, and Literacy in the Preschool Years -- 13 Social and Emotional Development of Preschoolers -- 14 Physical Growth and Motor Development in the Primary Years -- 15 Cognitive Development in the Primary Years -- 16 Language and Literacy in the Primary Years -- 17 Social and Emotional Development in the Primary Years -- 18 Parents, Families, and Children: A Multicultural Perspective

This book is about the development of all children in the world. It examines the physical, social, emotional, linguistic and intellectual characteristics of children of diverse cultural background within and outside the United States.