Click here for a printable list of resources.

Infancy and Preschool Development

  • Oneness and Separateness: From Infant to Individual

Kaplan, L.; New York: Simon and Schuster, 1998 (paperback)
A poetic book about the first three years of life.

  • The Magic Years: Understanding & Handling the Problems of Early Childhood

Fraiberg, S.; New York: Scribner, 1959 (paperback)
A classic about the inner world of preschool children written by a child analyst and renowned researcher.

  • Dibs in Search of Self

Axline, V.; Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1964
The touching journey of a young child’s experiences in play therapy.

Elementary School Years

  • Playground Politics: Understanding the Emotional Life of Your School-Age Child

Greenspan, S. I. & Salman J.; New York: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1993;
An easily read book incorporating five principles of healthy parenting throughout the text.

  • Taking Play Seriously

Henig, R. M.; The New York Times Magazine 02/17/08 – nytimes.com
The contribution of play to psychological development at all ages.

  • Marguerite Kelly’s Family Almanac

Kelly, M.; New York: Simon and Schuster, 1994 (paperback)
A columnist with psychologically informed advice for parents. Also see her online columns from The Washington Post; margueritekelly.com

  • Latency

Sarnoff, C. A.; New York: Aronson, 1976
A classic in helping therapists and interested non-therapists understand development, both normal and problematic, in the school-aged child. Note in particular the first two chapters.

Adolescence Development

  • Adolescence: Farewell to Childhood

Kaplan, L.; New York: Simon and Schuster, 1984
Exploring the very challenging transitional issues for adolescent females from pre-puberty to adulthood, this book alternates the intellectual discussion of many complex issues with a creative, almost free-form ability to consider facets of adolescent psychological development from other fields, including sociology, culture, neurology and critical legal studies of women. It will appeal to those who have a deep interest in the the development of adult women in all its aspects. Review written by Cynthia Barnes.

  • The Inside Story on Teen Girls

Rubenstein, A. & Zager, K.; Washington, DC
American Psychological Association, 2002
For adolescent girls and their parents to read together.

  • Facts For Families

These facts for families cover over 90 issues affecting children, adolescents and their families, from ADHD, Bipolar and Chronic Physical Illness to Violence on TV, http://aacap.org