This book represents a synthesis of current knowledge about the physical, cognitive and social development of young children who live in the developing countries of Africa, Asia, Latin-America, and Oceania. The book develops five major themes: (1) It views child development in a comparative fashion, examining universal sequences in development as well as the diverse behavior patterns that are adaptive in a wide variety of cultural contexts. (2) It focuses on the interrelationship of biological, ecological, and social factors that put constraints on the behavior of children and their caretakers. (3) It reveals options and problems that arise when children and their families are confronted with rapid social change. (4) It points to the practical application of cross-cultural research in intervention programs designed to meet the health, nutritional, and educational needs of young children and their caretakers. (5) It illustrates the contributions of multidisciplinary research and international cooperation in the cross-cultural study of children and in social-action programs. (Author/MP)