Table Of ContentA Therapist’s Guide to
Child Development
A Therapist’s Guide to Child Development gives therapists and counselors the basics they need to understand their clients in the
context of development and to explain that development to parents. The chapters take the reader through the various physi-
cal, social, and identity developments occurring at each age, explaining how each stage of development is closely linked to
mental health and how that is revealed in therapy. This ideal guide for students, as well as early and experienced profession-
als, will also give readers the tools with which to communicate successfully with the child’s guardians or teachers, including
easy-to-read handouts that detail what kind of behaviors are not cause for concern and those behaviors that indicate it may be
time to seek help. As an aid to practitioners, this book matches developmental ages with appropriate, evidence-based mental
health interventions.
Dee C. Ray, PhD, is a distinguished teaching professor in the counseling program and director of the Child and Family
Resource Clinic at the University of North Texas. She is the author of Advanced Play Therapy (Routledge, 2011), coauthor of
Group Play Therapy (with Daniel Sweeney and Jennifer Baggerly, Routledge, 2014), and the editor of the Journal of Child and
Adolescent Counseling.
A Therapist’s Guide to
Child Development
The Extraordinarily Normal Years
Edited by
Dee C. Ray
First published 2016
by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
and by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2016 Dee C. Ray
The right of the editor to be identified as the author of the editorial
material, and of the authors for their individual chapters, has been
asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. The purchase of this copyright material confers
the right on the purchasing institution to photocopy pages which
bear the photocopy icon and copyright line at the bottom of the
page. No other parts of this book may be reprinted or reproduced
or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other
means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying
and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system,
without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks
or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and
explanation without intent to infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A therapist’s guide to child development : the extraordinarily normal
years / edited by Dee C. Ray.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Child psychology. 2. Child psychotherapy. 3. Child development.
I. Ray, Dee C.
BF721.T4554 2015
155.4—dc23
2015016520
ISBN: 978-1-138-82896-4 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-138-82897-1 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-73795-9 (ebk)
Typeset in Garamond MT & Futura BT
by Swales & Willis Ltd, Exeter, Devon, UK
This book is dedicated to the students and graduates of the
University of North Texas.
They inspire me to grow every day.
C
ontents
List of Contributors xii
PART I Introduction 1
Chapter 1 An Overview of Child Development 3
DEE C. RAY
An Overview of Child Development 3
Developmental Models 6
Using This Book 11
Chapter 2 Developmentally Appropriate Interventions 14
DEE C. RAY
The Sequence of Developmentally Effective Therapy 14
Interventions 15
Conclusions 23
PART II Early Childhood 27
Chapter 3 The Extraordinary Beginning Years: Birth to 2 Years Old 29
LIZ ENER
Brain Development/Interpersonal Neurobiology 31
Physical Development 32
Gender and Sexual Development 34
Cognitive Development 34
Worldview/Ego Development 36
Emotional Development 37
Social Development 38
Relationship Development 39
Development in the Age of Technology 39
Best Practices in Counseling/Therapy 40
Conclusion 43
Chapter 4 The Extraordinary 3-Year-Old 46
KASIE R. LEE
The 3-Year-Old 46
The 3½-Year-Old 47
Brain Development 47
Physical Development 48
Gender and Sexual Development 49
Cognitive Development 49
Worldview/Ego Development 50
Emotional Development 51
Social Development 51
Relationship Development 52
Development in the Age of Technology 52
Best Practices in Counseling/Therapy 52
Conclusion 56
Chapter 5 The Extraordinary 4-Year-Old 57
JENIFER W. BALCH
Brain Development 58
Physical Development 59
Gender and Sexual Development 59
Cognitive Development 60
Worldview/Ego Development 61
Emotional Development 62
Social Development 63
Relationship Development 64
Development in the Age of Technology 64
Best Practices in Counseling/Therapy 65
Conclusion 67
PART III Middle Childhood 69
Chapter 6 The Extraordinary 5-Year-Old 71
DALENA L. DILLMAN TAYLOR
Brain Development 71
Physical Development 72
Gender and Sexual Development 73
Cognitive Development 73
Worldview/Ego Development 74
Emotional Development 75
Social Development 75
Relationship Development 75
Development in the Age of Technology 76
viii
Best Practices in Counseling/Therapy 77
Conclusion 81
Chapter 7 The Extraordinary 6-Year-Old 83
KIMBERLY M. JAYNE
The 6-Year-Old 83
The 6½-Year-Old 84
Brain Development and Interpersonal Neurobiology 84
Physical Development 85
Gender and Sexual Development 85
Cognitive Development 86
Worldview/Ego Development 87
Social Development 89
Relationship Development 89
Development in the Age of Technology 90
Best Practices for Counseling/therapy 90
Conclusion 93
Chapter 8 The Extraordinary 7-Year-Old 95
HAYLEY L. STULMAKER
Brain Development 96
Physical Development 97
Gender and Sexual Development 97
Cognitive Development 98
Worldview/Ego Development 100
Emotional Development 101
Social Development 102
Relationship Development 103
Development in the Age of Technology 103
Best Practices in Counseling/Therapy 104
Conclusion 107
Chapter 9 The Extraordinary 8-Year-Old 109
SINEM AKAY
Brain Development 109
Physical Development 110
Gender and Sexual Development 111
Cognitive Development 111
Worldview/Ego Development 113
Emotional Development 114
Social Development 114
Relationship Development 115
Development in the Age of Technology 115
ix
