Books in the Understanding Children's Worlds series

A fully updated and revised edition which bridges the gap between research and practice in the field of child and family psychology. The book is addressed to professionals, including psychologists, psychiatrists, family lawyers and social workers.

G is for Genes summariezes the latest research and explores, in a scientific and non-political way, what genetic research means for schools, and for the choices parents have to make about their children's education.

In the post-Cold War world many regions are threatened by violent ethnic, religious and cultural strife. If children manage to survive, are they scarred psychologically? This book looks at the evidence from many parts of the world in an attempt to answer this question.

Peer Groups and Children's Development considers the experiences of school-aged children with their peer groups - in both formal and informal settings - and the implications of these experiences for their social, personal and intellectual development.

The role of play in child development is a source of ongoing interest and debate. In this book, renowned expert Peter Smith offers an expansive definition of the term "play", taking an in-depth look at its impact on children, as well as its adaptive value for birds and mammals, including primates.

* A critical review of research into how children come to understand the social world. * Addresses a broad range of issues in children's "theories of mind". * Takes an integrated approach to the development of children's social understanding.

A long-held intellectual tradition states that children's early fantasy life is primitive and disorganized. The author aims to show that children's ability to imagine hypothetical and counterfactual possibilities makes a continuing contribution to their cognitive and emotional development.

* Fascinating account of an unusual research project challenges many assumptions about how young children. * Turns upside-down the commonly held belief that professionals know better than parents how to educate and bring up children.

This book extends models of early literacy, analyzing how children's reading and spelling skills develop throughout their school career.

This work focuses on children in families, and on what can be learnt from research examining their experiences. It documents demographic changes across several countries, and what research reveals about outcomes for children who experience parental separation and stepfamily formation.

Children Doing Mathematics provides a reliable and up to date review of the substantial recent work in childrena mathematical understanding. The authors also present important new research on childrena s understanding of number, measurement, arithmetic operation and fractions both in and out of school.

This textbook explores the views and discussions surrounding how children think and learn, tracing the historical influences that have taken place over the past ten years. It also looks at the practical implications of research.

Human interaction depends on what has been called 'a theory of mind.' If we cannot understand what will upset or delight another person, we cannot fully participate in social life. This book traces the development of that understanding in the child, highlighting the child's increasing insight into the complexity and subtlety of our mental life.

Drawing on evidence from studies on both sides of the Atlantic, this beautifully written book from Judy Dunn, the leading international authority on childhood development, considers the nature and significance of children's early friendships.

When children draw, what are they trying to convey? What do they see in their own work and what can we learn from it? In Children and Pictures, Richard Jolley critiques the most recent studies conducted in the field, lending insight and perspective to art's role in understanding child development.