The authors indicate in the preface that this volume was developed for use as a reference source for quickly assessing the level of mental development in cognitive, perceptual-motor, language, and other academic areas. They state that this book supplies a series of expectancies or norms for given ages against which the pediatrician can compare a particular child.
In the past two decades, other screening instruments have been developed. Comprehensive interpretation of the resulting data still depends on a thorough familiarity with the methods of establishing the norms and the important variables, as well as a thorough, basic knowledge of child development. This volume adds nothing new either in content, ease of administration, or in advice as to what steps to take after a developmental lag is identified.
Chapters 1 and 5 provide a brief narrative description and checklist of developmental milestones from ages 2 through 9 years. The items selected