John Wiley & Sons, 2015. — 208 p. — ISBN-10: 1118521234.Review
One of the surprise pleasures of busting myths is encountering those that I always thought were true, and so Great Myths of Child Development provided me with a number of such surprises. Identical twins are not genetically identical? A woman can get pregnant during a pregnancy? Not all girls have XX sex chromosomes and not all boys have XY chromosomes? Fathers don′t use more corporal punishment than mothers? These, and many more myths, are considered with the best available science, instead of how most of us parents do it by intuition, rumor, and word–of–mouth. This book should be on every parent′s nightstand and referenced every time you worry that you might be doing something wrong. Michael Shermer, Publisher Skeptic magazine, monthly columnist Scientific American, author of Why People Believe Weird Things, The Believing Brain, and The Moral Arc.
What everyone claims to know about child development can be shown to simply not be so. To the rescue comes this book, which can easily be consulted when we are confronted by claims about child development that are accompanied by authoritative pronouncements and scientifically weak foundations. I suspect my copy will be well thumbed very soon. Patrick C. Friman, Ph.D., ABPP, Vice President of Behavioral Health, Boys Town and Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, UNMC.It s great to see this new addition to the sparse but growing literature on popular misunderstandings of child development. From the entertaining riff on Dr. Spock s advice to the references to entertainment media, Great Myths of Child Development is engaging, informative, and much needed. Instructors will be pleased with the speed busting sections, which can easily be used as assignments to be modeled on the longer critiques. Jean Mercer, Professor Emerita, Richard Stockton College, Galloway NJ.Authors Hupp and Jewell systematically dissect and destroy 50 myths of child development that are too–often propagated in the popular media and by well–intentioned child–rearing experts. Most importantly, the authors don′t just shoot down common misconceptions, they offer concise recommendations and resources to help readers make scientifically–informed child–rearing decisions. As a research–based child psychologist, I hope this book makes it into the hands of all parents, teachers, coaches, and pediatricians. Brett R. Kuhn, PhD., pediatric psychologist and co–author of The Toddler Owner′s Manual: Operating Instructions, Trouble–shooting Tips, and Advice on System Maintenance.From the Back CoverGreat Myths of Child Development reveals the latest evidence–based science behind the myths and misconceptions around the developing child. Topics covered include preconceived notions about twin–telepathy, sex–prediction, baby talk, vaccines, spankings, child care, imaginary friends, and many more. To illustrate the mixed messages about healthy child development presented in the media, the authors also draw on examples from a variety of contemporary TV shows and feature films everything from Modern Family and Mad Men to Moonshiners and Meet the Fockers. The authors contrast this stereotypical behaviour with their top ten list of the most surprising but true findings in the field of child development. Readers wishing to take the next step are also pointed in an evidence–based direction to topics relating to fertility, sleep problems, ADHD, education, autism, bedwetting, depression, anxiety, behavior problems, divorce, and parenting. From the moment of conception through the years of childhood, Great Myths of Child Development separates the pseudo from the science to take out some of the confusion and concern over the development skills and growth of your child.
