Child Psychology and Development for Dummies - by Laura L Smith & Charles H Elliott (Paperback)

About the Book

An essential guide for parents, teachers, and caregivers, this text provides an informational guide to cognitive development at every stage of a child's life. It includes expert tips and guidance on how to diagnose, treat, and overcome the cognitive barriers that impede learning and development.

Book Synopsis

A complete and comprehensive guide to why kids behave and think the way they do-and how to bring out the best in them.

In the U.S., more than 10% of children are diagnosed with psychiatric disorders, while countless others remain undiagnosed. Defining what is "normal" and what is not is of great concern to anyone who works with, guides, nurtures, teaches, or parents children.

With new discoveries in mental disorders that affect children, Child Psychology & Development For Dummies provides an informational guide to cognitive development at every stage of a child's life, as well as how to diagnose, treat, and overcome the cognitive barriers that impede learning and development.

• How to identify and treat mental disorders
• Covers behavior disorders, autism, attention deficit disorder, reading disabilities, bipolar disorder, and more
• Guidance on helping a child control impulses, develop self esteem, and have good relationships

An essential guide for parents, teachers, and caregivers, Child Psychology & Development For Dummies provides a detailed overview of an average child's cognitive development, how to detect abnormalities, and what to do next.

From the Back Cover

Grasp a child's cognitivedevelopment, detectabnormalities, and learnwhat to do next

An essential guide for parents, teachers, and caregivers, Child Psychology & Development For Dummies provides an informational guide to cognitive development at every stage of a child's life, as well as expert tips and guidance on how to diagnose, treat, and overcome the cognitive barriers that impede learning and development.

• The nuts and bolts -- delve into the soup of kids' development, including biology, psychology, learning, environment, and culture

• What makes kids tick? -- discover how heredity, environment, experience, and culture interact to determine a child's physical and emotional development

• Watch them grow -- get an understanding of what a "normal" childhood should look like from conception through adolescence, and the types of behaviors to anticipate throughout

• Learn to spot trouble -- find out what can go wrong during a child's development, from physical problems like chronic illness to psychological problems like autism

• Ask for help -- get expert guidance on the therapies and interventions that work, and how you can collaborate with professionals for an even better outcome

Open the book and find:

• Physical, mental, and social development from conception through adolescence

• Treatments and interventions that work

• Physical and psychological problems that interfere with normal development

• Common behavior disorders

• The aftermath of abuse, trauma, and neglect

• What to expect from therapy and medication

• How to help kids cope at school

Learn to:

• Understand the difference between "bad behavior" and behavior disorders

• Know whether a child is ready for school

• Help a child control impulses, develop self-esteem, and have good relationships

About the Author

Laura L. Smith, PhD, is a clinical and school psychologist. Charles H. Elliott, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and founding fellow of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy. Together they have written several books, including Borderline Personality Disorder For Dummies and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder For Dummies.