Understanding Child Development, 7e is a book designed for students in early childhood teacher preparation programs, and for teacher?s in-service and those in related in-service and preparation programs. It is now available in the seventh edition, and includes many new features and benefits. For students, it introduces the unique qualities of the young child as distinguished from older children, and demonstrates how to work with young children in ways that correspond with their individual developmental level and social and cultural environment. For in-service teachers, the book offers an opportunity to evaluate their views of young children and compare them with the views presented in the book. In each section, critical social and cultural factors are related to young children?s development, and factors relevant to working with children with special needs are integrated throughout. Other areas covered include developmentally appropriate practice, readiness, assessment, working with children and families from diverse cultures, development of early stages of reading, the importance of brain development, and play and learning. Content is connected directly to the importance of play and technology to a young child?s learning is included, along with the popular theoretical views of learning. Many real life examples and anecdotes are included in the book in order to make theory and research come alive. The book is organized in larger sections with chapter divisions that provide the reader with easily digested segments of material. Each chapter includes boxed problems for reflection and for further learning, as well as further activities, reference lists, and review questions at the end of each chapter. The book includes many examples, explanatory charts, and full color photographs, and the online resources are expanded.