This is a professional textbook that provides a framework for the assessment of children's behaviour difficulties. The author considers a range of theories and argues that after careful assessment to screen out other causes of disturbed behaviour, benefit can derive from application of the principles of social learning theory. Using this perspective, suggestions are made for overcoming problems such as aggressiveness, disruptiveness, withdrawn behaviour and eating or sleeping difficulties. This provides a practical guide for practitioners in health visiting and school nursing and also serves as a textbook for social work courses such as community nursing. The text reviews theories and uses findings to suggest effective treatments for common childhood problems, advocates the use of social learning theory in the assessment of troubled children, and addresses behaviour difficulties and sleeping, eating and other problems.