1. Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory

2. Question! How does the world around the child help or hinder development?

3. Ecological Systems Theory Development is the result of the relationships between people and their environments.

4. Implications Cannot evaluate a child’s development only in the immediate environment. Must also examine the interactions among the larger environments that a child develops in.

5. The FOUR layers Microsystem: Relationships with direct contact to the child Mesosystem: Connection between relationships of child’s microsystem Exosystem: Structures in which child the child does not have direct contact Macrosystem: Cultural context

6. Based on Bronfenbrenner, U. 1979. The Ecology of Human Development. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.

8. Brain functioning – physiological and psychological

9. Emotions

11. Children actively shape their environment

12. Personal attributes influence responses from other people

13. Children actively select and avoid specific environments

16. Properties of the four layers Each layer has an effect on a child’s development Each layer is complex Conflict within any layer ripples throughout other layers

18. Schools should create an environment that welcomes and nurtures families

19. Education should foster societal attitudes that value all work done on behalf of children