"Numerous theoretical and empirical papers have been published to describe and explain how children's social interactions and relationships develop, how they are maintained and transformed over time and across settings, and how they determine healthy and unhealthy development. As a result, new theories have been proposed, new methodologies invented, and new understandings of children's development achieved.

Childhood Social Development: The Essential Readings introduces students to this field of developmental psychology.".

"Each of the articles has been chosen to reflect the dynamic, changing nature of the subject and the diversity of research and thinking within the area of social development, together with its accessibility to students at all levels.

Written by leading researchers such as Willard Hartup, Eleanor Maccoby, and Gary Ladd, the articles are both introduced and contextualized by the editor, and suggestions for further reading give students a starting point for exploration of the key topics in childhood social development."--BOOK JACKET.