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Child Development
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Child Development
An Active Learning Approach

Fifth Edition
Available with:


January 2026 | 688 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
In the topically organized Child Development: An Active Learning Approach, authors Laura E. Levine and Joyce Munsch guide students through a lively exploration of child development. The text’s integrated active learning activities transform reading into an interactive learning experience that encourages them to test their knowledge, challenge common misconceptions, relate concepts to their own experiences, and engage in real-world activities both independently and with children. Students will not only gain a deeper understanding of child development but also acquire lasting skills that extend beyond the classroom. The latest Fifth Edition introduces new active learning activities, over 1,000 updated references, and new true/false questions that challenge common misconceptions and engage students in the science of development.

This text is offered in Sage Vantage, an intuitive learning platform that integrates quality Sage textbook content with assignable multimedia activities and auto-graded assessments to drive student engagement and ensure accountability. Unparalleled in its ease of use and built for dynamic teaching and learning, Vantage offers customizable LMS integration and best-in-class support.

 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Authors
 
Part I: Understanding Development: Why and How We Study Children and Adolescents
 
Chapter 1: Issues and Themes in Child Development
Why Study Child Development?

 
Understanding How Development Happens

 
Contexts of Development

 
Be a Smart Consumer of Information About Development

 
Conclusion

 
Chapter Summary

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 2: Theories of Development
Why Theories of Development Are Important

 
Psychoanalytic Theory

 
Learning Theories

 
Theories of Cognitive Development

 
Developmental systems theories

 
Developmental theory in cultural context

 
Comparison of Developmental Theories

 
Conclusion

 
Chapter Summary

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 3: How We Study Development
The Scientific Method

 
How Research Is Designed

 
Interpreting and Communicating the Results of a Study

 
Ethics in Research With Children and Adolescents

 
Conclusion

 
Chapter Summary

 
Key Terms

 
 
Part II: Biological Beginnings and Physical Development
 
Chapter 4: Nature Through Nurture: Genes and Environment
The Study of Genetics and Behavior

 
Molecular Genetics: Chromosomes, Genes, and DNA

 
Genetic Disorders

 
Behavioral Genetics

 
The Interaction of Genes and Environment

 
Conclusion

 
Chapter Summary

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 5: Prenatal Development, the Newborn, and the Transition to Parenthood
Prenatal Development

 
Health and Risks in Pregnancy

 
The Birth Experience

 
The Newborn

 
The Transition to Parenthood

 
Conclusion

 
Chapter Summary

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 6: Physical Development: The Brain and the Body
Brain Development

 
Development of the Senses

 
Body Growth and Changes

 
Motor Development

 
Nutrition

 
Conclusion

 
Chapter Summary

 
Key Terms

 
 
Part III: Cognitive Development
 
Chapter 7: Cognitive Development: Theories
Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development

 
Theory of Core Knowledge

 
Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory of Cognitive Development

 
Information Processing

 
Comparing Four Theories of Cognitive Development

 
Conclusion

 
Chapter Summary

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 8: Cognitive Development: Applications
Defining and Measuring Intelligence

 
Variations in Intellectual Ability

 
Academic Achievement: Non-Cognitive Factors

 
Risk and Success in Academic Achievement

 
Academic Achievement: Learning in the School Context

 
Conclusion

 
Chapter Summary

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 9: Language Development
Aspects of Language

 
Language and the Brain

 
Theories of Language Development

 
Stages of Language Development

 
Literacy: Reading and Writing

 
Bilingualism and Bilingual Education

 
Language Disorders

 
Conclusion

 
Chapter Summary

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 10: Emotional Development and Attachment
Emotions: Universality and Difference

 
Temperament

 
Emotion Regulation and Self-Control

 
Normal Emotions and Emotional Problems

 
The Development of Attachment

 
Attachment Disorders

 
Conclusion

 
Chapter Summary

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 11: The Self and Identity Development
Development of Self-Concept

 
Development of Self-Esteem

 
Gender Identity

 
Ethnic and Racial Identity

 
Moral Identity

 
Conclusion

 
Chapter Summary

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 12: Social Development: Social Cognition and Peer Relationships
Social Cognition: Theory of Mind

 
Peer Relationships in Infancy and Early Childhood

 
Peer Relationships in Middle Childhood

 
Adolescents: The World of Peers

 
Bullying, Cyberbullying, and School Violence

 
Conclusion

 
Chapter Summary

 
Key Terms

 
 
Part IV: Contexts for Development
 
Chapter 13: Families
What Constitutes a Family?

 
Family Roles and Relationships

 
Socialization in Childhood and Adolescence

 
Interventions for a Better Family Life

 
Conclusion

 
Chapter Summary

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 14: Beyond the Family: Activities, Media, and the Natural World
Unstructured Time and the Natural World

 
Electronic Media Use

 
Structured Time

 
Relationships with Nonparental Adults

 
Conclusion

 
Chapter Summary

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 15: Health, Well-Being, and Resilience
Stress and Coping

 
Physical Illness and Mental Disorders

 
Other Threats to Health and Well-Being

 
Challenges to Positive Child Development

 
Resilience

 
Conclusion

 
Chapter Summary

 
Key Terms

 
 
Glossary

Well-organized, and strongly grounded in research and best practices. The applied learning approach is a strong selling point as well. The activities are personal and meaningful, rather than time-fillers.

Brionne G. Neilson
Southern Utah University

This is a comprehensive textbook that provides students with a firm foundation for understanding basic developmental concepts, along with introducing them to current trends and topics being explored by researchers in the field today.

Monica R. Sylvia
Le Moyne College
Key features
NEW TO THIS EDITION:
  • The new edition is available in Sage Vantage, an intuitive learning platform that integrates quality Sage textbook content with assignable multimedia activities and auto-graded assessments to drive student engagement and ensure accountability. Unparalleled in its ease of use and built for dynamic teaching and learning, Vantage offers customizable LMS integration and best-in-class support.
    • Flashcards and note-taking tools help students better prepare for class.
    • NEW! Audiobook Player allows students to listen to text content, boosting comprehension and retention. It offers flexible, on-the-go access, engaging both reluctant readers and auditory learners, improving the overall reading experience.
    • The Offline Reading option in the Student Dashboard offers greater accessibility to Vantage’s reading content, regardless of where students are or how strong their internet connection may be.
  • New Active Learning Activities include a variety of engaging exercises such as "Your Own Theory of Child Development," "Gene-Environment Interaction," and "How Many Genes, How Many Effects?" to deepen students' understanding of developmental topics.
  • A focus on contemporary issues introduces topics like the impact of social media on adolescent egocentrism, the relationship between prenatal stress and infant outcomes, and the implications of screen use on peer interaction and development, reflecting current challenges affecting children and families today.
  • Over 1,000 new or updated references, featuring research on brain development, gene-environment interactions, autism spectrum disorder, and the effects of COVID-19 on child development.
  • New theoretical frameworks such as the Phenomenological Variant of Ecological Systems Theory (PVEST) and expanded content on systems theories, gene-environment interactions, and the development of language and self-control in children are included.
  • New True/False questions have been refreshed throughout the text to challenge students’ misconceptions about development.
KEY FEATURES:
  • An active learning approach that integrates dynamic activities throughout each chapter engages students in personal, real-world applications of research and theory.
  • Learning Questions give students specific goals toward mastering the most important material.
  • Test Your Knowledge assessments at the beginning of each chapter help students identify and dispel any misconceptions in the field through answering true/false questions.
  • Journey of Research pedagogy illuminates how research evolves and shapes new ideas for key topics in child development.
  • Check Your Understanding questions at the end of each section allow students to check on their mastery of the material before moving on to the next topic.
Vantage Reference: 
Child Development - Vantage Learning Platform

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