See How They Grow: Infants and Toddlers

by Sue Martin, Jennifer E. Berke

See How They Infants and Toddlers is a book that offers an overview of the growth and development of infants and toddlers from the neonate stage through the age of three. There is special emphasis on the phenomenological approach. This approach requires that the caregiver adopts a perspective that leads to a more human and responsive understanding of each child. This approach is combined with the scientific methodology allowing the caregiver to achieve a level of improved competence, becoming reflective practitioners. There is careful consideration of cultural differences in the book due to the ever present and increasing diversity of the US population. This allows the caregiver to be fully aware of how culture, beliefs, and traditions can influence the ultimate development of a child. The early chapters describe the philosophy of the book and explain various methods of observation. They also provide a baseline of information on growth and development. Further chapters focus on development in 3 month spans, leading to the full examination of how children grow and change rapidly in all physical, emotional, social, cognitive, and language. Developmental variations and alerts are considered at each level, including health and safety issues as well as potential signs of abuse and neglect. The book includes multiple learning tools including key terms and words of wisdom, as well as an online companion. The reader will benefit fully from this thoughtful reference based in the acknowledgment that all children are competent and powerful learners.

480 pages, Paperback

First published August 28, 2003

Reviews

[Katie Testa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking for more of a bio-psychological analysis of how infants and toddlers develop but this text is instead meant for preprofessionals entering the field of daycare. Along this theme I feel like the text could have benefited from some activities and case studies that show instead of tell. As an educator and parent I know that it's important to give more concrete ideas instead of generalizations of common behaviors and things to do with children. It was mentioned that some activities could be found online but that wasn't very helpful.

[Mrs C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book. It's a textbook, but it's very readable.