This volume provides an authoritative and up-to-date overview of research and theory in childhood social development from preschool age to the onset of adolescence. Chapters are contributed by experts in the field from Australasia, Europe and North America and cover 30 topics currently of importance in the field, in terms of research, applied research, and policy. The Handbook starts with an historical overview and follows with major sections. The first focuses on a variety of disciplinary perspectives. Following sections address influences on development, the family context, the peer group, social skills and social cognition, play, helping and moral reasoning, as well as cooperation, competition, aggression, and bullying. These, in addition to the final section on children with special needs, make this volume appropriate for practitioners who deal with children as well as for college and university teachers, researchers, and advanced undergraduate and graduate students. Each chapter summarizes existing knowledge in the field, synthesizing the latest research in an accessible manner, whilst also highlighting areas of growing debate. Integration and coherence are provided by editorial commentaries prefacing each section.

Peter K. Smith is Professor of Psychology and Head of the Unit for School and Family Studies at Goldsmiths College, University of London. He is co-author of the leading textbook Understanding Children's Development (Third Edition, Blackwell, 1998), among many other books and articles.

Craig H. Hart is Professor and Chair of the Marriage, Family, and Human Development department at Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah. He has co-authored 50 scientific papers and three edited volumes on children's social development and early childhood education practices. He is associate editor of Early Childhood Research Quarterly.