Description
Book SynopsisBiomental Child Development: Perspectives on Psychology and Parenting coins the novel term biomental to denote the interaction of the actual and gradually integrating body and mind from conception through development over infancy, childhood, and adolescence. This innovative approach presents a vision that recasts descriptions and explanations of child development to capture the inter-connectedness of the physical and the emotional experience.This book provides the reader with a basic understanding of normal or typical child, adolescent, and adult psychology that is life-positive and energetic. Concrete detailscharted chronologically and thematicallyof development are outlined stressing both their overlapping biological and psychological significance. In addition to a clear and succinct overview of child development in one user-friendly volume, concrete parenting strategies and numerous examples are given throughout. Time tested theories, modern problems (for example, bullying and toxic
Trade ReviewTo empower adults to engage in effective interactions to help children flourish, the author, in six lengthy chapters, provides in-depth and extensive knowledge of findings in many areas of child development. Crucial topics include the importance of nurturing secure, rather than insecure, attachment in infancy and childhood, and descriptions of children’s temperament, personality, and intellectual development. . . . Educators will appreciate his emphasis on the need for parental support for developing a child’s executive skills, which include forward planning, multitasking, capacity to inhibit distractors, self-regulation skills, error correction, cognitive flexibility, and organization skills. ... The breadth of coverage across all child ages makes this book useful for an agency to have as a resource book to train new staff. ... The book will be most useful for practitioners who work to sustain fragile families or who carry out parenting programs in clinics for parents with strong stresses (Honig, 2010). Providers who work with divorced, still hostile, parents whose children are doing poorly in school and/or in emotional relationships with peers or who work with dysfunctional parents whose abusive or neglectful behaviors have already alerted social service personnel will find a treasure trove of insightful ideas in this book. The rich descriptions of child development information summarized in this volume can serve professionals well as a splendid 'refresher course' to help regalvanize them for their work to support optimal family functioning with children. The information provided will remind them of developmental norms from earliest infancy and will refresh their knowledge of milestones and the range of variations among children. ... The author’s ideas can galvanize providers’ own creativity in devising tools and techniques for helping each parent served to become more adept, more subtle, more caring in the intimate, intricate, and ever-changing dance between parent and child that results in healthy and ever-more-mature child development. * PsycCRITIQUES *
Often the role of intelligence on a child’s development and later success in life has been simplistic in some psychiatric perspectives. In contrast, Dr. Ninivaggi presents a judicious, thoughtful, rational, and balanced approach to the biological and psychological dimensions of the child in this comprehensive text. This work will benefit professionals in all caregiving fields as well as parents seeking an intelligent and practical child guidance compendium. -- Alan Kaufman, Ph.D., clinical professor of psychology, Yale University Child Study Center, School of Medicine, author of IQ Testing 101
Biomental Child Development presents an astute, cutting edge perspective on the complex contextual factors that contribute to healthy child development. An invaluable resource to draw on when confronted with myriad child-rearing dilemmas, Biomental Child Development is a MUST for psychologists, psychiatrists, pediatricians, social workers, and other professionals who desire to better understand the complexities of child development, to help families function at their best, and to foster children's optimal development. An enlightening, useful, and much-needed! -- Laura E. Berk, Ph.D., distinguished professor emerita of psychology, Illinois State University, author of Awakening Children's Minds: How Parents and Teachers Can Make a Difference
Dr. Ninivaggi has crafted a rich treasure of insight and information about parenting. He exhorts parents to hear what their children mean, not just listen to what they say. He guides his readers to discover the best style of interaction for the personality and temperament of both parent and child. Biomental Child Development is not a simple read or quick fix for a troubled family. It is a thoughtful - if not brilliant - treatise on how to successfully travel the challenging road of parenting. -- David Griesemer, M.D., professor of pediatrics & neurology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
Biomental Child Development provides a holistic synthesis of many different neurobiologic and environmental influences. These are described in the context of ongoing development. Dr. Ninivaggi presents a pragmatic approach to understand and address the many aspects of the bidirectional, parent-child transaction. -- Glen P. Aylward, Ph.D., ABPP, professor of pediatrics and psychiatry, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
Table of ContentsMedical Disclaimer Dedication Foreword Introduction and Overview 1. A Philosophy of Parenting 2. The Psychology of the Child 3. Infant and Child Development 4. The Psychology of Parents as Adults 5. Parenting Styles 6. More Worth Noting on Parenting Biographical Sketch Acknowledgements Tables
