Children and Their Development

by Robert V. Kail

Illustrating both the splendor of child development and the strides that researchers have made in understanding developmental psychology, this accessible book presents the core research, theory, and application of the developmental psychology field. A noted researcher in cognitive development, using a modular format, writes it and a clear and engaging style. Readers are encouraged to focus on the main concepts through the use of real case studies, outlines, objectives, questions, special features, and other devices. Chapter topics include issues related to the science and genetic bases of child development; prenatal development, birth, and the newborn; physical and motor development; sensory and perceptual development; Piaget's theory of cognitive development; information-processing approaches to cognitive development; intelligence and individual differences in cognition; language and communication; emotional development; understanding self and others; moral understanding and behavior; gender and development; family relationships; and influences beyond the family. For individuals who want to learn more about the key issues and diversity, of children's developmental journeys into adulthood.

Genres: Psychology, Textbooks, Nonfiction, Parenting, Reference, College

506 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1997

About the author

Distinguished Professor of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana. Kail has been a faculty member in Purdue's Department of Psychological Sciences since 1979. Prior to that, he was an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Pittsburgh.

Kail has 65 publications in refereed journals, and he has written five textbooks. He is editor of Psychological Science and the incoming editor of Child Development Perspectives. Previously he served as editor of Advances in Child Development and Behavior and the Journal of Experimental Child Psychology.

Alternative Names
Kail, Robert, 1950-
Kail, Robert V.
Kail, Robert V., Jr.

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read the 2nd Canadian Edition for a Child Psychology university course. I found this was a good text, easy to read, lots of informative studies and examples.

[Channelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bought it during university for class (5th edition), but didn't really read that much at the time. Having read it now, it's very well-explained and overall a good textbook, but some of the information has become outdated, as it's been just over a decade since I purchased it. Still, some valuable insights and historically very interesting.

[Elizabeth Houseman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never actually enjoyed a textbook before, but this one was great. It was easy to understand, had clearly explained key topics, and great content. This was a wonderful textbook.

[Christelle Perrig]

I can't rate this because I had to read it for uni lol

[Emma Sonnen · Rating 4 out of 5]

required reading Carleton University PSYC2500

liked this one, but i felt like it focused a bit too much on physical development and not enough on the psychology behind it.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most enjoyable textbook I got to read over the last two semesters.

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book goes at great lengths to reassure the reader of the medieval observations and reinforces the given stereotypes:

"Because boys and men are more aggressive in virtually all cultures and because males in nonhuman species are also more aggressive, scientists are convinced that biology contributes heavily
to this gender difference. Aggressive behavior has been linked to androgens, hormones secreted by the testes. Androgens do not lead to aggression directly."