For courses in Early Childhood Development.

While arranged in the conventional ages-and-stages format, the 4th edition of Early Childhood Development: A Multicultural Perspective by Jeffrey Trawick-Smith diverges from convention to take a multicultural approach to all facets of development in children from birth to age 8. Every topic is examined through the lens of diversity—from intellectual development to attachment patterns, from peer relations to motor skills—which is essential for our increasingly diverse student population.  Coverage of atypical development and the challenges of special education is woven seamlessly through each chapter. Case studies and examples provide future teachers with a hands-on guide to how children develop, how children's skills develop, and how that development should inform sensitive, successful teaching practice.  Key changes to this edition include: an expanded discussion of play and literacy in every developmental level, an expanded discussion on social policy issues (poverty, government initiatives, etc.), and a new feature—Advocacy and Public Policy Box—found in Chapters 2-17.