Children and Their Development

Children and Their Development, 7th Edition, by Robert V. Kail, is an academic psychology textbook that examines child growth from conception through adolescence. Designed for both students and instructors, the text introduces fundamental developmental research methods and major theoretical frameworks while detailing how scientific findings translate into practical application.

The text is organized topically to mirror how scholars analyze child development in contemporary practice. Instead of following a strict chronological timeline, the author structures the subject matter using a flexible modular format that isolates core themes. Integrated application-based features appear throughout these modules to connect theoretical principles directly to developmental study.

To assist with student study and comprehension, the textbook pairs initial instructional goals directly with review sections. The explicit Learning Objectives established at the beginning of each chapter align with the chapter summary materials, offering readers a consistent structure for reviewing essential concepts across every area of coverage.