Child Development Books

Understanding the different developmental changes a child goes through from birth to the age of 18 can help parents anticipate a child's needs at each stage. There are specific mental and physical processes, or mechanics, which are designed to occur at various points in development. The overall term for this study is "child development."

The Eight Stages of Development

There are eight broad stages in the study of child development, each of which are age-specific. The technical terms for these are are separated into three categories. The first category refers to development prior to birth: zygote, which refers to the point of conception; fetus, or embryonic, which refers to the time from fertilization to birth; and then the actual birth stage. The second category covers the age of 0 - 12, and these stages include that of infant (0 to 1.5 years), toddler (1.5 to 4.0 years), elementary school/middle childhood age (4.0 to 8.0 years), pre-adolescence/pre-pubescent/late-childhood (8.0 to 12.0 years), and finally adolescence/puberty (12.0 to 18.0 years).

Milestones which occur within these various stages include physical and emotional development. Examples of physical milestones include the ability to lift and control the head, crawling, walking, and ultimately, speech capabilities. Having books around that detail child development can be quite useful for parents and those studying the field as a career. A good way to look for comprehensive resources is to check online libraries; this is especially true for new parents who may not have the time to go to the library or bookstore. The best libraries have text searches that help you find the topic you are looking for within a specific book--a real timesaver.

Resources for child development literature fall into multiple categories. Some texts are devoted exclusively to physical development, others focus on emotional and behavioral changes, and still others concentrate on psychological factors. Many fine texts provide an overview of all these developmental aspects. As with any science, look for recent publications, written by credible, reliable authors from trusted institutions.