This fully revised fourth edition outlines seven strands of practice for three to six-year old children, designed to develop the skills, concepts and knowledge underpinning literacy in the early years. Accompanying each strand are clear explanations of the research and reasoning on which they are based. Practical advice on helping children transfer their learning into their own child-initiated activities, to build a genuine and solid foundation for literacy, is integral to the book.

One in five children in the developed world is diagnosed as having 'developmental or behavioural problems', and the number is rising by 25 per cent each year - this book explains why and shows what can be done about it. It covers issues from bullying to dyslexia, ADHD to obesity.