Child Psychology and Development For Dummies [Paperback]

Laura L. Smith (Author), Charles H. Elliott (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2011

A complete and comprehensive guide to why kids behave and think the way they do-and how to bring out the best in them.

In the U.S., more than 10% of children are diagnosed with psychiatric disorders, while countless others remain undiagnosed. Defining what is "normal" and what is not is of great concern to anyone who works with, guides, nurtures, teaches, or parents children.

With new discoveries in mental disorders that affect children, Child Psychology & Development For Dummies provides an informational guide to cognitive development at every stage of a child's life, as well as how to diagnose, treat, and overcome the cognitive barriers that impede learning and development.

• How to identify and treat mental disorders
• Covers behavior disorders, autism, attention deficit disorder, reading disabilities, bipolar disorder, and more
• Guidance on helping a child control impulses, develop self esteem, and have good relationships

An essential guide for parents, teachers, and caregivers, Child Psychology & Development For Dummies provides a detailed overview of an average child's cognitive development, how to detect abnormalities, and what to do next.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Grasp a child's cognitivedevelopment, detectabnormalities, and learnwhat to do next

An essential guide for parents, teachers, and caregivers, Child Psychology & Development For Dummies provides an informational guide to cognitive development at every stage of a child's life, as well as expert tips and guidance on how to diagnose, treat, and overcome the cognitive barriers that impede learning and development.

• The nuts and bolts — delve into the soup of kids' development, including biology, psychology, learning, environment, and culture

• What makes kids tick? — discover how heredity, environment, experience, and culture interact to determine a child's physical and emotional development

• Watch them grow — get an understanding of what a "normal" childhood should look like from conception through adolescence, and the types of behaviors to anticipate throughout

• Learn to spot trouble — find out what can go wrong during a child's development, from physical problems like chronic illness to psychological problems like autism

• Ask for help — get expert guidance on the therapies and interventions that work, and how you can collaborate with professionals for an even better outcome

Open the book and find:

• Physical, mental, and social development from conception through adolescence

• Treatments and interventions that work

• Physical and psychological problems that interfere with normal development

• Common behavior disorders

• The aftermath of abuse, trauma, and neglect

• What to expect from therapy and medication

• How to help kids cope at school

Learn to:

• Understand the difference between "bad behavior" and behavior disorders

• Know whether a child is ready for school

• Help a child control impulses, develop self-esteem, and have good relationships

About the Author

Laura L. Smith, PhD, is a clinical and school psychologist. Charles H. Elliott, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and founding fellow of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy. Together they have written several books, including Borderline Personality Disorder For Dummies and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder For Dummies.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (March 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470918853
• ISBN-13: 978-0470918852
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 0.9 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #47,595 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Developmental Psychology Guide May 8, 2011

By Benjamin VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

This is a great developmental psychology guide that can be used by parents and educators alike. It is written by two PhDs, and it coves everything you need to know about children psychology from pregnancy until the teen years. The book includes a very useful appendix (developmental milestones), and the usual and useful icons of this dummies series: remember, tip, warning, and technical stuff. Highly recommended.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A great resource; covers many parental concerns April 19, 2011

By Mindy VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

I'm a mother to a two-year old boy and like many others, I often worry about whether or not my child is developing normally. This is the reason I chose to get this book and it fulfilled my expectations marvelously.

I like the layout of the book. The authors know parents are busy and few will actually read the entire book cover to cover. They highlight critical points and indicate things that are good to know but not necessary. (They call these "Technical Stuff" which I actually found fascinating) The table of contents is very detailed so you can jump right to the section you're interested in. In the back is a chapter on tens that I thought was informative yet brief ( e.g. Ten ways to calm kids down, ten signs that a kid needs help and ten signs of a gifted kid.) I also liked that they're research based. For example, they state that kids in daycare tend to be more impulsive. That's probably not a popular thing to say but that's the research. They also mention how many parents are so careful to build up a child's self-esteem that an emerging problem among the young is narcissism.

I found myself flipping through this book for hours; there were many topics that I felt applied to me and the advice rang true. I felt the authors knew what they were talking about and were experts. Definitely recommended for parents with kids. The book addresses all ages (up to 18 years) but I think parents with kids younger than high school would benefit most since many of the issues discussed are things discovered in early childhood such as autism, learning disorders, educational choices and facing physical problems.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful June 24, 2012

By TC

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

This book is a helpful book for beginners who are trying to understand basic child psychology and development. it is great for laypeople, parents, and even beginning psychology students. The information is presented in a way that most people will understand and will give them a better understanding of how children work. If you do not have a psychology background and are a parent or parent to be, I strongly recommend this book.