The Yale Child Study Center Guide to Understanding Your Child: Healthy Development from Birth to Adolescence

by Linda C. Mayes, Donald J. Cohen

Now the organization that represents the most advanced research and thinking about child development brings you state of the art answers to every parenting concerns. Focusing exclusively on developmental issues, the work of psychiatrists, psychologists, pediatricians, social workers and educators at Yale University School of Medicine's Child Study Center has been brought together in a comprehensive reference guide for every family bookshelf.

Here is sound, reassuring advice on child-rearing that covers everything from preparing for the birth of your first child, to understanding different learning styles. Parents will find answers to questions ranging from "How can I prevent eating disorders or obesity from developing?" to "If spanking is an inappropriate form of discipline, what do I do when talking doesn't work?"

From toilet training to learning disability, from sexuality to substance abuse, this book will become an indispensable source of information for generations to come.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction

560 pages, Paperback

First published February 4, 2001

Reviews

[Douglas Lord · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although this survey of child development and parenthood packs considerable wisdom and bears a prestigious imprimatur, it comes off as fairly generic. With its emphasis on a conceptual, developmental approach, it stands out in strong intellectual counterpoint to the quick how-to tactics of many contemporary titles, such as Sally Ward’s BabyTalk: Strengthen Your Child's Ability to Listen, Understand, and Communicate. Mayes, director of early childhood programs at the Yale Child Study Center, and Cohen, its former director, cover individual topics in 36 chapters (e.g., “Your Baby’s Motor Development,” “Sexuality and Gender,” “The Course of Pregnancy”). Though this comprehensiveness is a plus, much of the advice is common sense (“negative experiences or the absence of appropriate care may cause serious, enduring harm to early brain development”). As admirable as the authors’ goals are, it is hard to imagine 'regular' people reading and retaining this much general information. Find it at a larger public library. (Index not seen.)

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[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It's huge, but so helpful for understanding child psychology. I give it as a baby shower present.

[LINDSEY M]

A very readable and user-friendly guide to your child's development. Focuses mainly on infancy through preschool. I wish I had read this before I became a parent!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not rocket science but I enjoy learning a little more about the inner workings of little ones than what I read on Baby Center.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not anything you couldn't figure out by having half a brain a decent understanding of basic childhod development. Disappointing at best.

[Daniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as informative as I would have thought.