Guiding Children's Social Development and Learning: Theory and Skills

NAEYC standards are emphasized throughout the text. Every chapter begins with a list of the standards to be addressed. Relevant standards-related content -- and why it is important -- is highlighted in the material that follows and identified by an icon. A detailed correlation chart listing the standards coverage in each chapter appears on the inside front and back covers of the book.

The book introduces the Social Support Pyramid in Chapter 1 to describe four phases in guiding children's social behavior. This pyramid appears in each chapter, illustrating how the skills presented in that chapter fit into an overall program of social support and intervention.

Theory and research provide a broad basis for understanding child behavior and establish a foundation for appropriate action. The authors draw upon research and practice from a variety of fields, and show readers how theory can be translated into classroom applications.

Step-by-step instructions for how to implement skills associated with the content are presented in each chapter, as are many real-life examples to illustrate key points. The authors also describe typical pitfalls associated with learning each skill and how to avoid them.

The book discusses the strong links between social competence and academic success.

Readers learn how to support long-range goals in the classroom while addressing short-term concerns.

Information about children with special needs is presented in all chapters, as well as examples and guidelines on how teachers can adapt the material to their work with these children. In addition, case studies of children with special needs appear in the Appendix. Cases are referenced throughout the text and activities at the ends of chapters help students apply text material to a case scenario.

The text spans the entire age-range from infants to age 8 and beyond, making it ideal for students in early childhood/elementary programs. It also provides a developmental progression of skills from early days relationship building to providing behavior supports for children with challenging/extreme behavior.

Examples of children's art are included as a way to represent authentic "young voices" in the text.

Chapter-opening student learning objectives are numbered and closely aligned with the newly numbered main headings throughout the chapters.

Over 250 new references make this edition current with the most recent literature and research.

Items identified as "Professional Resource Downloads" throughout each chapter offer customizable content (e.g., forms and checklists) for immediate use.

Streamlined end-of-chapter summaries closely align with the learning objectives and the main heads, providing an integrated chapter structure that reinforces students' grasp of the content and facilitates review.