Contents:The Nature of children's development: Introduction -- The Science of child development -- Beginnings: Biological beginnings -- Prenatal development -- Birth -- Infancy: Physical development in infancy -- Cognitive development in infancy -- Socioeconomical development in infancy -- Early childhood : Physical development in early childhood -- Cognitive development in early childhood -- Socioemotional development in early childhood -- Middle and late childhood: Physical development in middle and late childhood -- Cognitive development in middle and late childhood -- Adolescence: Physical development in adolescence -- Socioemotional development in adolescence.