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Child Development
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Child Development
Understanding A Cultural Perspective

Third
March 2026 | 616 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
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Every child is born into a community, a society, a culture, in which they will live, grow and develop. Culture is an essential component of every child’s psychological and physical development and this book forefronts differences in culture giving a global look at child development. 

Taking a chronological approach, from prenatal development to adolescence, your knowledge of developmental psychology will grow with the child. To help you in your studies:

  • Social, cognitive, emotional and physical aspects of development are interwoven to help you connect it all together
  • You can find case studies from across the globe to enable you to compare cultures
  • Key research studies are highlighted to help you get to grips with the theory
  • You’ll be encouraged to ‘Stop and think’ and engage your critical skills
 
Chapter 1: Theoretical perspectives
 
Chapter 2 Prenatal Development and Physical Differentiation
 
Chapter 3: Infancy: A Practical Understanding of the World
 
Chapter 4: Infancy: Culturally Defined Developmental Pathways
 
Chapter 5: Toddlerhood: Biological Differentiation (1 year to 30 months)
 
Chapter 6: Toddlerhood: Psychological Differentiation (24 to 36 months)
 
Chapter 7: Early Childhood: Becoming Symbol Minded (3 to 6 years)
 
Chapter 8: Early Childhood: Encouraging Autonomy (3 to 6 years)
 
Chapter 9: Middle Childhood: Differentiating ‘Inner’ and ‘Outer’ (6 to 12 years)
 
Chapter 10: Middle Childhood: Non-schooled Development (6 to 12 years)
 
Chapter 11 Teenage Years: Adolescent or Adult? (13 Years and Up)
 
Chapter 12 Teenage Years: Integrating the Actual and the Possible (13 Years and Up)
Key features
  • Chronological approach rather than a thematic approach
  • Covers prenatal development and takes an in-depth look at toddlerhood (which is often missing from other books)
  • Cultural perspective very relevant to teaching and other books aren't engaged with this – even though this is where students are asking a lot of questions!
  • Case studies have been commissioned for this edition which bring a whole new set of examples from across the world 

Pedagogy: 

  • Learning objectives – get clarity on what you should take away from this chapter
  • Getting started questions – encourage critical engagement with what comes next
  • Key research – Detailed look at a key study that allows the Stop & Think – Encourage pauses for critical thinking and questioning the psychology canon
  • Summary – offers the key learning points in a revision friendly format
  • Further reading – ideas of where to engage further – largely online suggestions and YouTube links