Child Development: Early Stages Through Age 12 12
Part 1
Children in Today’s
World
18
1
Learning About Children 20
Why Study Children? 23
What Is Child Development? 27
Factors That Infl uence Growth
and Development 28
Brain Development 31
Differences in the Rate of Growth
and Development 35
Principles of Growth and
Development 35
Theories of Growth and
Development 38
Observing Children 41
2
Families Today 48
Changes Affecting Families
Today 50
Changes in Family Roles 50
Family Types 52
The Family Life Cycle 61
Roles of Parents 63
Parenting Styles 66
Characteristics of Healthy
Families 68
Cultural Infl uences on
Families 69
3
Preparing for Parenting 76
Why Is It Hard to Be a Good
Parent? 78
Deciding About Parenthood 79
Factors to Consider 82
Family Planning 90
Infertility and Sterility 91
Part 2
Prenatal Development
and the Newborn
98
4
Pregnancy 100
Conception 102
Genetic Factors and the Unborn
Baby 104
Multiple Pregnancy 108
Stages in Prenatal
Development 111
5
Prenatal Care 118
Signs of Pregnancy 120
Medical Care 120
The Unborn Baby’s
Environment 122
Contents
12