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Child and Adolescent Development in Context
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Child and Adolescent Development in Context

Second Edition
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February 2026 | SAGE Publications, Inc
Like children themselves, development is dynamic. In the chronologically organized Child and Adolescent Development in Context, award-winning author Tara L. Kuther brings developmental research to life by framing it within real-world contexts, illustrating how internal factors interact with a wide range of social, environmental, and cultural influences. Through highly relatable examples and vivid cross-cultural stories, Dr. Kuther engages students while emphasizing three core themes: the centrality of context, the importance of research, and the practical value of developmental science. Students will come away with a deeper understanding of these themes and the ability to apply them to their own lives and future careers. The new Second Edition features an expanded exploration of intersectional influences, a new section on intersectionality in Chapter 1, and the addition of "Developmental Cascades", a brand-new feature that illustrates how changes in one domain can influence others.

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 Author
 
Chapter 1: Introduction to Child Development: Themes, Theories, and Research
Understanding Development

 
Core Concepts in Developmental Science

 
Classic Theories: Psychoanalytic and Behaviorist Theories

 
Cognitive Theories

 
Biological and Systems Theories: Evolutionary Developmental, Bioecological, and Dynamic Systems Theories

 
Methods of Collecting Data about Children

 
Research Designs

 
Applied Developmental Science, Ethics, and Intersectionality

 
Apply Your Knowledge

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 2: Biological and Environmental Foundations of Development
Genetic Foundations of Development

 
Chromosomal and Genetic Abnormalities

 
Reproductive Technology and Genetic Counseling

 
Prenatal Diagnosis

 
Heredity And Environment Interactions

 
Apply Your Knowledge

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 3: The Prenatal Period, Birth, and the Newborn
Prenatal Development

 
Environmental Influences of Prenatal Development

 
The Prenatal Environment and Prenatal Care

 
Childbirth

 
The Newborn

 
Apply Your Knowledge

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 4: Physical Development in Infancy and Toddlerhood
Body Growth and Health in Infancy and Toddlerhood

 
Threats to Infant and Toddler Health

 
Brain Development During Infancy and Toddlerhood

 
Sensory and Perceptual Development

 
Motor Development

 
Apply Your Knowledge

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 5: Cognitive Development in Infancy and Toddlerhood
Piaget’s Cognitive-Developmental Theory: Sensorimotor Reasoning

 
Information Processing Theory

 
Language Development in Infancy and Toddlerhood

 
Biological and Contextual Influences on Language Development

 
Apply Your Knowledge

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 6: Socioemotional Development in Infancy and Toddlerhood
Emotional Development In Infancy And Toddlerhood

 
Temperament

 
Attachment

 
The Self in Infancy and Toddlerhood

 
Apply Your Knowledge

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 7: Physical Development in Early Childhood
Growth and Motor Development

 
Brain Development

 
Promoting Health in Early Childhood

 
Threats to Health and Well-Being

 
Apply Your Knowledge

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 8: Cognitive Development in Early Childhood
Piaget’s Cognitive-Developmental Theory: Preoperational Reasoning

 
Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory

 
Information Processing in Early Childhood

 
Language Development in Early Childhood

 
Moral Development and Behavior in Early Childhood

 
Early Childhood Education

 
Apply Your Learning

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 9: Socioemotional Development in Early Childhood
Emerging Sense Of Self

 
Emotional Development In Early Childood

 
Families

 
Gender Typing And Gender Development

 
Play And Peer Relationships In Early Childhood

 
Apply Your Knowledge

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 10: Physical Development in Middle Childhood
Growth and Motor Development

 
Brain Development

 
Health in Middle Childhood

 
Threats to Health in Middle Childhood

 
Apply Your Knowledge

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 11: Cognitive Development in Middle Childhood
Piaget’s Cognitive-Developmental Theory: Concrete Operational Reasoning

 
Information Processing Theory

 
Intelligence

 
Moral Reasoning in Middle Childhood

 
Language Development In Middle Chidhood

 
Learning and Schooling In Middle Childhood

 
Apply Your Knowledge

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 12: Socioemotional Development in Middle Childhood
The Self in Middle Childhood

 
Gender in Middle Childhood

 
Peer Relationships in Middle Childhood

 
Families In Middle Childhood

 
Risk and Resilience in Middle Childhood

 
Apply Your Knowledge

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 13: Physical Development in Adolescence
Puberty

 
Brain Development in Adolescence

 
Adolescent Health

 
Threats to Adolescent Health

 
Adolescent Sexuality

 
Apply Your Knowledge

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 14: Cognitive Development in Adolescence
Cognitive Development

 
Social Cognition

 
Moral, Civic, And Religious Development

 
Schools and Academic Achievement In Adolescence

 
Post-Secondary Education and Employment

 
Apply Your Knowledge

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 15: Socioemotional Development in Adolescence
The Self in Adolescence

 
Adolescents and Their Parents

 
Peers

 
Internalizing and Externalizing Issues

 
Positive Youth Development

 
Apply Your Knowledge

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
 
Glossary
 
References

The author provides a detailed approach that does not overwhelm beginning students.

Michael Godfrey
Brigham Young University-Idaho
Pre pub Review
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.
  • A deeper contextual approach integrates intersectional influences—including race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status—throughout every chapter, with a new section in Chapter 1 defining intersectionality and its relevance to developmental science.
  • Lives in Context material has been revamped and integrated into the text, with two-thirds of topics being new and the rest substantially updated.
  • Developmental Cascades is a brand-new feature illustrating how changes in one domain (e.g., motor skills) influence others (e.g., language or emotional development).
  • Over 2,100 new references, including 500+ published since 2023, ensure the text reflects the most current findings.
KEY FEATURES:
  • Lives in Context: Revamped and streamlined for the Second Edition, with two-thirds new topics and substantial updates to the rest. Integrated into the text, this content illustrates interactions among children and their contexts.
  • Developmental Cascades: A new feature illustrating how changes in one developmental domain influence others. Examples include motor-language links in infancy, screen use and fine motor development, and COVID-19’s impact on pubertal timing and adolescent depression.
  • Thinking in Context Questions: Embedded throughout chapters to encourage comparison of concepts, application of theory, and evaluation of research findings. Each box concludes with critical thinking prompts.
  • Apply Your Knowledge Sections: Each chapter ends with a realistic scenario and questions that ask students to apply their understanding to solve problems.
  • Intersectional Influences on Development: Expanded coverage of how race, gender, socioeconomic status, and other variables interact to shape developmental outcomes.
  • Applying Developmental Science: Integrated into the text, updated examples of current research and its applications includes postpartum depression, infant sign language, autism and theory of mind, and children’s suggestibility.
  • Chapter Opening Vignettes and Learning Objectives: Vignettes introduce a child’s circumstances, with Thinking in Context questions guiding application throughout the chapter. Learning objectives are revisited in end-of-chapter summaries and review questions.
  • Careers in Child Development: Each chapter highlights careers related to developmental science, beginning with transferable skills in Chapter 1.
Vantage Reference: 
Child and Adolescent Development in Context - Vantage Learning Platform

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