Childhood

Understanding how children develop can help parents raise their children more effectively, lead society as a whole to adopt wiser policies regarding children's welfare, and answer intriguing questions about human nature. Children are influenced by their early experiences, but some are able to overcome even the most traumatic backgrounds. Child development research is important for a number of reasons. First is to gain information and understanding that can help parents raise their own children successfully. Second is to gain insight into social policy issues related to children and to help society adopt policies that promote children's well-being. Thirdly, is to better understand human nature in general.

Historical Foundations in the Study of Child Development

Some of the earliest recorded ideas about children's development were those of Plato and Aristotle. These two Greek philosophers, who lived in the fourth century b.c., were particularly interested in how children's