A lively and engaging new edition, this book examines child development as a process involving the whole child within multiple, mutually influencing contexts. With an emphasis on biological and cultural factors, it explores the pathways of development shared by all children plus the diverse developmental patterns that unfold in them as individuals. * Continued emphasis on the biocultural perspective: this continues to provide an integrated, conceptual framework for understanding development. * New research: there is a focus on the latest research on executive function, including its role in school achievement. Coverage of advances in neuroscience continues, emphasizing the relationship between brain development and the child's experience. There is an exploration of new research into how the prenatal environment affects subsequent development and health. * New focus on media: there is a more thorough and expansive presentation of children's use of interactive media and communications technology, emphasizing implications for cognitive development and social relationships. * New emphasis on culture and biology: the joint roles of biology and culture are examined with respect to how they affect the development of mental and physical health problems, including obesity, eating disorders, and suicide The cultural contexts of parenting practices and sibling relationships are discussed in light of new research.