It is necessary for social work students to understand fully how people develop and how the different stages of life, from birth to older adulthood, require them to use different skills and approaches. Covering all stages of the life course, this essential guide looks at the ways in which people develop before birth, as babies and children, through to adolescence and on to young, middle and older adulthood. With this knowledge embedded, social workers are able to establish and maintain effective partnerships with both service users and other professionals.