Developmental Considerations Across the Pediatric Population

The story of childhood and adolescence is marked by a sense of wonder at the unexpected. Coupled with a tremendous rate of change in physical, cognitive, and social capacities, it can be challenging for many to identify the signal among the noise. Acknowledging that developmental issues and health, including behavioral health, are intertwined in numerous ways, this chapter seeks to provide behavioral health providers and trainees a foundational understanding of children’s and adolescents’ development. Beyond individual-level factors, this chapter reviews important family- and contextual-level influences on development and health, such as structural inequities born of prejudice (e.g., skin color and social class) and opportunity (e.g., family resources and assets). Implications for practice and training are presented throughout the chapter, including a case study to allow trainers, trainees, and practitioners to apply these theories and concepts.