The Psychology of Starting School offers a highly accessible, practical guide to cutting-edge research from developmental science to guide parents and professionals through this exciting but sometimes tricky period.
Written by expert developmental psychologists, it explores how social and emotional competence emerges within a network of supportive relationships and explains how the transition to school compares with other key transitions for children, for example, becoming a sibling. Addressing the all-important topic of children’s early friendships, it explains how children’s mindreading skills and ability to regulate their feelings and behaviour contribute to a successful school transition. The book offers guidance on topics such as successful home-school links, the impact of starting school on family life and troubleshooting problems for both parents and educators including socialising outside school, children’s fatigue, and establishing positive relationships with other parents at the school gates.
Designed to dip in and out, and complete with numerous examples, chapter summaries and top tips for parents and teachers, this book is essential reading for parents, Early Years professionals, SENDCos, health visitors and school nurses, as well as mental health professionals and social workers working with children and families.
Author Biography:
Claire Hughes is a professor of developmental psychology, a Fellow of Newnham College, University of Cambridge and a Deputy Head at the Department of Psychology (Wellbeing, Equality and Diversity). Her research interests include school readiness, family relationships, and individual differences in children’s self-regulation and social understanding.
Caoimhe Dempsey recently completed her PhD at the Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge, where her research focused on families during the transition to primary school. She has experience working in the field of developmental psychology in Ireland, UK and New Zealand. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the Economic and Social Research Institute, Ireland.
Elian Fink is an assistant professor in developmental psychology at the University of Sussex. She specialises in children’s play and peer relationships, with a focus on how to support children in making and maintaining friendships during the transition to primary school.
Choose a destination to see accurate shipping times, delivery options, pricing and product availability.
Afterpay logo
Shop now. Pay later. Always interest‑free.
Swing through the checkout with Afterpay.Get your order now, pay in four fortnightly payments.
Afterpay offers simple payment plans for online shoppers, instantly at checkout.Buy what you want today, pay for it over time. Interest free, with no additional fees if you pay on
time.
1
Select Afterpay as your payment method
Use your existing payment card
2
Complete your checkout in seconds
No long forms, instant approval
3
Get your items just as fast as always
Your order ships straight away
4
Pay over four payments, interest free
Enjoy now, pay later
How it works
Simply select Afterpay as your payment method in the checkout or when picking up your items from the Mighty Ape distribution centre,
and enter your details at Afterpay to complete your order
Your payment schedule will be shown in the checkout, and emailed to you
If you are a new Afterpay customer, the first payment will be made at the time of purchase, with
remaining payments over the next 6 weeks
Once you have been an Afterpay customer for 6 weeks, on subsequent orders you may be eligible to
make your first payment in 14 days, with final payment in 8 weeks
If you need to return your items for a refund, the payment plan can be cancelled
If you fail to make a payment, you will be charged a late payment fee of $10 with a further $7
fee added 7 days later if the payment is still unpaid