Childhood development is characterized by a multitude of fascinating changes. How children perceive the world and interact with it, how they think about it, and what information they can retain is in constant flux. Understanding language and acquiring their own language skills also provide children with a whole new perspective on the world. This enables them to acquire knowledge more quickly, expand their imaginative capacity, and learn to communicate more efficiently with others. Through communication and interaction with their environment, they experience themselves as social beings and gain insights about themselves. The book explains the typical changes in childhood from a foundational research perspective. Each chapter bridges to atypical developmental trajectories and discusses how knowledge from basic research can be applied.