Drawing on contemporary research from neuroscience, psychology, education and social welfare Understanding Emotional Development provides a comprehensive overview of the full course of emotional development - from infancy and toddlerhood to key changes which occur during adolescence. Written in an engaging and accessible style, each chapter contains a number of useful pedagogical features, including summaries, review questions, and further reading. The book will be essential reading on all courses covering social and emotional development, and it will also be of interest to professionals working in education, child welfare, and social work.