Critical Thinking About Critical Periods (Bailey, Bruer, Symons, & Lichtman)

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The future of research on critical periods of development.

Related Titles:

Meaningful Differences in the Everyday Experience of Young American Children

Critical Thinking About Critical Periods
Edited by

Donald B. Bailey, Jr., Ph.D., John T. Bruer, Ph.D., Frank J. Symons, Ph.D., & Jeff W. Lichtman, M.D., Ph.D.

"EXCELLENT! No issue is more central, or more misunderstood, than the notion that the first three years of life represents a critical period of brain development. This book provides a highly readable, myth-busting assessment of the research relevant to this issue. An important addition to the field." —Steven F. Warren, Ph.D.

In this important book, experts from diverse fields bring together the latest research to give you the facts about critical periods — what is known, what is thought to be known, and what is not yet known. You'll find out how critical periods relate to a young child's visual system, social and emotional development, language acquisition, and early childhood education. Through this comprehensive discussion from the perspectives of neuroscience, child development, and education, you'll be able to distinguish fact from theory, to understand what critical periods are — and are not — and to create new strategies and policies to help improve children's development and education.

This book was developed through work at the National Center for Early Development and Learning. Visit the Center's web site for more information on the transition to kindergarten, a free online magazine, policy briefs, fact sheets, and more.

Critical Thinking About Critical Periods

ORDERING INFO
ISBN 1-55766-495-1
Paperback
320 pages / 6 x 9
2001 / $32.00
Stock# 4951

Table of Contents

About the Editors
About the Contributors
Series Preface
Preface

Critical Periods: An Overview of Behavior and Biology
1. A Critical and Sensitive Period Primer
  John T. Bruer
2. Developmental Neurobiology Overview: Synapses, Circuits, and Plasticity
  Jeff W. Lichtman
Critical Periods in Basic Sensory Systems
1. Critical Periods in the Development of the Visual System
  Jonathan C. Horton
2. Critical Periods for Development of Visual Acuity, Depth Perception, and Eye Tracking
  Lawrence Tychsen
Critical Periods in Social and Emotional Development
1. Sensitive Periods in Attachment?
  Ross A. Thompson
2. Animal Model of Critical and Sensitive Periods in Social and Emotional Development
  Maria L. Boccia and Cort Pedersen
3. Social and Emotional Development in Children Adopted from Institutions
  Elinor W. Ames and Kim Chisholm
Critical Periods in Language Learning and Acquisition
1. Language Processing: How Experience Affects Brain Organization
  Helen J. Neville and John T. Bruer
2. Sensitive Periods in First Language Acquisition
  Heather Bortfeld and Grover J. Whitehurst
3. A Critical Period for Second Language Acquisition
  Kenji Hakuta
Early Intervention and the Relevance of Critical Periods
1. The Subtle Science of How Experience Affects the Brain
  John T. Bruer and William Greenough
2. Critical Periods and Early Intervention
  Dale C. Farran
3. The Concept of Critical Periods and Their Implications for Early Childhood Services
  Robert B. McCall and Bradford W. Plemons
4. Critical Periods: Reflections and Future Directions
  Donald B. Bailey,Jr., and Frank J. Symons