Includes bibliographical references (p. 283-293) and index.

When young children need help: what do we see? what do we think? what do we do? -- Seven building blocks of development: understanding core emotional, behavioral, and social competencies -- The contribution of constitution: understanding a child's temperament and neurodevelopmental profile -- The contribution of family life: understanding a family's history and patterns of interaction -- Setting the stage for mastery: developing a working hypothesis, goals for growth, and a plan of action -- Home-based strategies: helping parents set effective behavioral expectations -- Classroom-based strategies: mentoring teachers in the skills of developmental scaffolding -- Helping the shy, cautious, or withdrawn child -- Helping the child with language and information processing issues -- Helping the high energy and/or inattentive child -- Helping the easily frustrated, impulsive child -- Helping the anxious child -- Helping the disengaged, offbeat, or gifted but rigid child -- Additional issues: addressing trauma and loss, monitoring media choices, providing guidance during crises, and more -- Elementary school and beyond: perspectives for the long haul.