This book provides an in-depth understanding of how children's development at different stages of their lives interfaces with the kind of education and support they need at school and home. It examines closely how education, in turn, influences their development and prepares them for an uncertain future. The chapters focus on the rapid developments of the 21st century that are changing the nature of education, especially the shift needed to being able to sift through and meaningfully deal with overwhelming volumes of information now available. This book helps readers understand how children can benefit from the digital environment while avoiding its pitfalls. Keeping in mind that in today's world parents are getting to spend less time with their children, the authors provide research-backed ideas on how they can best enable children's development, including their thoughts, feelings and notions of self. Given the increasing disparities, there is a perceptive analysis of how education can build an awareness of equity in a context marked by diversity and disadvantage. This book addresses issues such as these in a reliable, scholarly yet accessible manner, for students, young researchers and lay readers. Consequently, it is a valuable source of fundamental insights and understanding for educators, policy-makers, educational administrators and students of human and child development, education, and teacher training courses.

1. Child Development and Education in the Twenty-First Century: An Introduction.- 2. Children and Education: Reflecting Back and Looking Forward.- Part II Children's Development, Learning and Education.- 3. Development in Early Childhood.- 4. Learning in Early Childhood.- 5. Middle Childhood and Adolescence: Development and Learning.- 6. Child Development and Education in the Context of Family.- Part III Literacy Practices in Childhood.- 7. Literacy and Reading in Childhood and Beyond.- 8. Children's Development in the Digital Age.- Part IV Looking Ahead.- 9. Education in a Changing World.