Ages and Stages: a parent’s guide to normal child development.

Author – Schaefer, C.E. and DiGeronimo, T.F.

Age Range – 0-10

Key words – development

This book provides a generic guide for parents on normal childhood development, including tips and techniques for building social, emotional, interpersonal and thinking skills. The book covers four developmental stages, namely, birth to 18 months, 18 months to 3 years, 3 to 6 years and 6 to 9 years. An overview of each aspect of development is provided within each of the four age ranges, and parents are helped to identify tasks and challenges for their child, whilst considering the implications for their own style of parenting.

The book’s layout facilitates easy access to the material and makes it equally useful as a text to be digested from cover to cover or one to be picked up for quick referencing. The book uses parent- friendly language and, overall, translates well for a British audience. Text boxes summarise salient information, emphasising the developmental perspective, outlining relevant research and distinguishing between normal developmental phases and development outside the normal range.

One possible downfall of the book lies in the authors’ attempts to define a cut-off point for the presence of significant problems at different stages that require professional help. This could lead to parents wondering about situations where their child’s development does not fit into the ‘normal’ range. It would be important therefore for parents reading the book to be aware that they can contact a professional to discuss further questions they may have.