Focusing on the child in the southern African environment, this work recognises that child development outcomes differ because of variations in culture, family structure, parenting, access to health services, and the child's experiences in and out of school. It questions the relevance of research from Western industrialised countries to southern African. Drawing on an author team of practitioners and theorists drawing on extensive experience from across Africa, it provides an accessible handbook with invaluable resource material for teachers, student teachers in training, pre-school teachers, social workers, and nurses.