Child Development: 6 to 16 Years
By Penny Tassoni
Feb 27, 2009, 11:19

Even if you do not currently work with children of 6+ this book provides such an interesting account of their development up to the age of 16, that everyone working with children should be interested in reading it.

The initial chapter gives an overview of childhood today, including sections on attitudes towards children and young people, children's rights and protection, education, poverty, crime and children as consumers.

Chapter 2 looks closely at emotional development, considering topics such as personality, self-confidence and self -esteem, gender and attachment.

Chapter 3 moves onto the study of social development, focusing on areas such as the theory of mind, the importance of friendships, peergroup pressures and bullying, relationships with adults, and moral and pro-social development.

Cognitive development is the subject of chapter 4, and of particular relevance to those of us working within the EYFS. Sections cover; Brain development; Piaget's and Vygotsky's theories; memory and information procesing skills; learning theories; intelligence; and learning reading, writing and mathematics.

The final chapter covers issues related to physical development across the age range. Penny Tassoni considers the importance of growth and physical development, and the roles that nutrition and exercise play.  Puberty and sexual relationships are discussed, and how smoking and drug and alcohol use are features in the lives of many young people. Sections on helping young people to avoid these offer practical help.

A thoroughly accessible book for all those working with children across the health, education and social services. Attractive, with many colour photographs and clips from newspapers showing the context of the subjects discussed. There are many suggestions for applying the theories to practice, and sections showing how children's early development and experiences influence their development later on.

Published by Heinemann, 2007 and available from here at £14.99