This book summarizes theory and discusses major issues pertaining to child development in the early childhood years. Chapter I provides an introduction to the conceptual framework and major theories of child development. Chapter II deals with motor, sensory, and perceptual development. Chapter III focuses on the cognitive-developmental theory of Piaget, socio-cultural variables affecting cognitive development, and the interrelatedness of areas of development. Chapter IV describes the concept of intelligence, developmental changes in intelligence, influences on intellectual development, and bias in intelligence assessment. Chapter V examines the biological foundations of language, language structures and acquisition, individual and group differences in language development, and the communication process. Chapter VI considers cognitive-developmental and social-learning theories, factors influencing socialization and the relationship of socialization to culture. Chapter VII elaborates on achievement motivation, aggression and sociability, sex-role identity, and the evolving sense of the self. Chapter VIII focuses on the links between basic child development concepts and their application. (CM)