Based on many years of teaching experience and drawing on her research among rural and urban children, this book is addressed to students of education and psychology, and can be used as a core text. Dr Ranganathan discusses the theories of education and the philosophical orientation of important thinkers. She studies the physical, emotional, social cognitive and moral development of children, as also their needs and interests. She also deals with the situation of exceptional children. The author has taken care to ensure the book is sensitive to issues of gender, class and caste. Each chapter ends with a summary of the main ideas dealt with therein. The book also contains a select reading list.