What to Expect: The First Year. Comes to mind. (It's by the same people that put out What to Expect When You're Expecting.)Also there are a lot of websites online *gerber, babyzone.com, etc* That I have found particularly helpful.

not to nit picks, but much like Google search terms these things have a habit of mattering...

i think the field you're looking for is "developmental psychology" or perhaps "cognitive psychology". "child psychology" is likely to be more mental and less cognitive than what you're thinking about, as i think you've already figured out.

hope this helps. no clue if Borders has a cogpsych section, but you might try browsing the general psychology stacks and see if you have any luck there.

Definitely cogpsych is what I'd recommend looking at. Check out any thing by Eric Erickson - I don't agree with everything he had to say, but over all he's decent. My Psych 201 book (Psychology through the Lifespan, basically developmental psych) was good - I'd be happy to ship it out to you.


http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=JournalURL&_cdi=6873&_auth=y&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=015bef33011408c35d3d592491f9e5cf

It's a bit old school, but Dr. Spock was really the pioneer of modern child care. His Baby and Child Care is now available in an 8th Edition.

I'll see if I can get you the info on the textbook I used when I took child psychology/developmental psych whatever. I think you'll probably be happiest with actual textbooks. A lot of them are actually pretty easy to read and not as dry as you might fear, and they tend to be lower on the incredibly annoying unsupported claims than a lot of what is marketed as psychology.

Borders? Why ever would you shop in a physical bookstore and put up with the limitations of selection, when you have the whole world at your fingertips online?

Anyway. Another expectant mother / geek friend of mine, pandashrugged, recently mentioned that she has been reading up on child development and neurobiology. I asked her to recommend a neurobiology book for me, which she did - one called "What's going on in there?" which I ordered and have started reading. I know it's not exactly what you are after, but you might take a look.

You also might comment on her post and ask if she has any recommendations. Reading two blogs from the perspective of a pregnant geek has been entertaining, and it seems like you two should hook up.

"I'm picky enough in what I read that I'd not finish half my library otherwise."

Yeah, I'm pretty picky too... I guess I just usually find that reviews and recommendations are sufficient. Especially if it is a subject I don't know about - I'll start with a websearch to find out what is considered the bible of that particular subject, or ask friends.

*shrug*

Anyway, good luck.

Maybe check online to see if local community colleges are teaching a related course this term, and then go to the bookstore and buy their text books? I would recommend looking in both the psychology and early education departments.

Or, maybe the library?

An exceptional undergrad-level child development book: Child Development: Its Nature and Course. It's pricy, at $75 dollars, but it is a big textbook, and worth the money. For what it's worth, I'm a grad student in clinical psychology, thinking about specializing in children.

A Yahoo search for "cognitive development children book" found some titles to look at/for (this can then be used as a reference for hunting them up physically).

From the look of some of them, a University bookstore might be more fruitful than a mainline popular one.

I know you have probably already thought of this as well, Sister, but here is my two cents: when it comes to babies, there is no true "book!" :)
While there is a wealth of information available and it is good to read up on all the information out there, when it comes down to it, every baby/child is different. Some of the information posted before will be of use, as Ericson and Spock were pioneers, so to speak. But there is sooooo much information out there, it boggles the mind.
Borders- well I agree with you. I love to open up a book, smell it, touch it, and browse through it before I buy. I just love the smell of books, period, which is why I worked for Borders for a time. Most college entry books are special orders as they aren't usually kept "in stock."
In my experience (and when I had my son thirtenn years ago, I had a BS in Child Development and had been working with children for quite some time), I was able to take some of what I knew and put it to use. Most of my "learning" was "on the job" so to speak, as other mom's (and dad's) on LJ will attest to! :)
I will take a look see at some of my old child psych books and send them to you. I used to get educator's material as well. I will see if I have those still around and send those to you too. Many of those had case studies with results that you may find of interest. :)

If you want to stop by next time you are in the city, you can borrow my Child Psych text.

I'd recommend "The first three years" by Burton White. It sounds like exectly what you are looking for. It's spot on for my son, Owen. He'll be 10 months on Friday!

btw, I knew Andrei when he lived in Pittsburgh ;-)

"when children are capable of various cognitive tasks"

I believe the book What To Expect in the First Year, has alot of information regarding brain development and when a kid can do what. There is a sequel book that has what to expect after the first year. Hope this helps!