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Child psychology is one of the many branches of psychology and one of the
most frequently studied specialty areas. This particular branch focuses on the mind
and behavior of children from prenatal development through adolescence. Child
psychology deals not only with how children grow physically, but with their
mental, emotional and social development as well. 
A child psychologist may work as a therapist, he might be part of a research
team that evaluates child learning disabilities and comes up with new
psychometrics for the evaluation of child development. Also he could work as an
adviser to a school district and help in formulating special education programs.
Historically, children were often viewed simply as smaller versions of
adults. When Jean Piaget suggested that children actually think differently than
adults, Albert Einstein proclaimed that the discovery was "so simple that only a
genius could have thought of it."
Development involves much more than the influences that arise within an
individual.Environomental factors such as social relationships, cultural and
socioeconomical context context play an essential role.
Today, psychologists recognize that child psychology is unique and
complex, but many differ in terms of the unique perspective they take when
approaching development. Experts also differ in their responses to some of the
bigger questions in child psychology, such as nature vs. nurture, early experience
vs. later experience, continuity vs. discontinuity, abnormal behavior vs. individual
differences etc.
Child psychology encompasses a wide range of topics, from the genetic
influences on behavior to the social pressures on development.The major subjects
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that are essential to the study of child psychology are: genetics, prenatal
development, language, gender roles.

Bibliography:

6 www.psychology.about.com
6 www.wisegeek.com