Great Myths of Child Development

One of the surprise pleasures of busting myths is encounteringthose that I always thought were true, and so Great Myths of ChildDevelopment provided me with a number of such surprises. Identicaltwins are not genetically identical? A woman can get pregnantduring a pregnancy? Not all girls have XX sex chromosomes and notall boys have XY chromosomes? Fathers don't use more corporalpunishment than mothers? These, and many more myths, are consideredwith the best available science, instead of how most of us parentsdo it by intuition, rumor, and word-of-mouth. This book should beon every parent's nightstand and referenced every time you worrythat you might be doing something wrong.--Michael Shermer,Publisher Skeptic magazine, monthly columnist ScientificAmerican, author of Why People Believe Weird Things,The Believing Brain, and The Moral Arc
 
What everyone claims to "know" about childdevelopment can be shown to simply not be so. To the rescuecomes this book, which can easily be consulted when we areconfronted by claims about child development that are accompaniedby "authoritative" pronouncements and scientificallyweak foundations. I suspect my copy will be well thumbed verysoon.--Patrick C. Friman, Ph.D., ABPP, Vice President ofBehavioral Health, Boys Town and Clinical Professor of Pediatrics,UNMC
 
It's great to see this new addition to the sparse butgrowing literature on popular misunderstandings of childdevelopment. From the entertaining riff on Dr. Spock's adviceto the references to entertainment media, Great Myths of ChildDevelopment 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 onthe longer critiques.--Jean Mercer, Professor Emerita, RichardStockton College, Galloway NJ
 
Authors Hupp and Jewell systematically dissect and destroy 50myths of child development that are too-often propagated in thepopular media and by well-intentioned child-rearing experts. Most importantly, the authors don't just shoot down commonmisconceptions, they offer concise recommendations and resources tohelp readers make scientifically-informed child-rearingdecisions. As a research-based child psychologist, I hopethis book makes it into the hands of all parents, teachers,coaches, and pediatricians.--Brett R. Kuhn, PhD., pediatricpsychologist and co-author of The Toddler Owner's Manual: Operating Instructions, Trouble-shooting Tips, and Advice on SystemMaintenance