Customer Reviews

Encounters With Children: Pediatric Behavior and Development (v. 3)

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I recently entered the world of adolescent psychopathology anddrug abuse. I wanted to read a text that would provide acomprehensive, yet succinct review of child and adolescent development, sprinkled with clinical examples and short discussions of recent research, and noting particulary important developmental highpoints that the clinician or health professional needs to be aware of. The strength of this book is that it accomplishes all that in an exceedingly reader-friendly manner, teaching, but not preaching, pointing out pros and cons, and presenting this difficult topic in a manner that anyone, from the layman to the pediatrician, can reep benefits. The book begins with pre-natal care and systematically progresses to young adulthood. First-time parents may especially benefit by learning the normal course of their baby's development. Parents of teenagers may benefit by an objective explanation of the physiological and associated psychological changes of their children. Researchers may benefit by constructing better targeted interview questions. Clinicians may benefit by learning of alternate or different or increasing number of approaches to pediatric care. And the inquiring mind can simply learn and enjoy.

This is the most impressive volume on child development that I have read. It is a unique effort, presenting reader-friendly and comprehensive information regarding the development of children and adolescents. Although it is written for Pediatricians, the "Perspectives', "Quick Check" behavioral descriptions, and "Heads Up" indicators of difficulty, provide invaluable information for all who work with children. The format, describing clinical issues that may arise at various ages along with brief demonstrative vignettes, is simply outstanding. I highly recommend this book to medical personnel, mental health professionals, and child/adolescent educators because it will add to the competency of all readers. My compliments to the authors.

This was a required book for graduate school for my Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program. In my opinion, there are many more valuable pediatric Growth and Development books available (check Mandleco's book). I do not like the narrative approach of this book; it is vague.