Infancy Les Basics

Infancy: The Basics offers an introduction to the developmental science behind the fascinating world of infants' development. It takes the reader from the moment an infant comes into the world seemingly unable to do much but eat and sleep, through the few short, incredible years, to when they are walking, talking, thinking humans with clear preferences, wishes, and dreams, having already forged strong long-lasting relationships. Dispelling common myths and misconceptions about how infants' cognition, perception, language, and personalities develop, this accessible book takes a novel whole-child approach and provides insight into the roles of nature (biology) and nurture (experiences) in infant development, how to care for babies to give them the best start in life, and what it means to become a thinking communicating social partner. Topics in this book are covered with an eye firmly fixed on how infants' first years set the stage for the rest of their lives. By helping us understand infants, experts Marc H. Borstein and Martha E. Arterberry give us the opportunity to learn about the resiliency of our species and the many different contexts in which families rear infants. They cover key topics including: how we study babies, prenatal development and the newborn period, how infants learn to understand and explore the world around them, how infants begin to communicate, how infants develop an emotional life, personality and temperament, attachment and relationship building, and what happens when parents face bringing up a baby in challenging circumstances. This concise clear guide to the years from before birth to three is for students of developmental psychology, pediatric medicine and nursing, education and social work. It also for all parents and professionals caring for infants, who want to understand the secret world of infancy.