The development of a child is affected by his or her social relationship with the people around them. The ecological systems theory by Urie Bronfenbrenner to explain how all things in a child and the environment of the child affects the growth and development of that child. Bronfenbrenner's theory looks at the development of a child in the context of the system of relationships that constitute the child's environment. The theory explains complex environment "layers" that affect the child's development. Bronfenbrenner divided a child's environment into five different layers: microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, macrosystem and lastly the chronosystem (Hess and Schultz, 2008). The interaction of these layers has a significant influence on a child's development, of which conflict in one layer automatically affects the other layers.
The microsystem is the closest layer to a child. The layer has direct contact with a child such as daycare, work, school, or home. The layer includes caregivers, peers, and family. A microsystem has bi-directional relationships where one's reaction to people in their microsystem affects how they treat them in return. Therefore, this level is the most influential in the ecological systems theory. Secondly, we have the mesosystem level. The layer includes interactions among the different parts of the child's microsystem. Here, the child's Microsystems do not independently function but are interconnected and affect each other. Subsequently, these interconnected interactions indirectly impact on the child (Hess and Schultz, 2008).
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Thirdly, we have the exosystem. Hess and Schultz (2008) note that the level includes other places and people that the child does not necessarily interact directly with but still affect him or her either positively or negatively. Examples of this level of the ecological system theory include the extended members of the family, parent’s workplace, and the neighborhood. The fourth layer is the macrosystem layer. The layer is the largest and includes the most remote people and things to the child. However, these distant interactions still have a significant influence on the child's development. The layer consists of cultural values, wars, the economy, and relative freedoms that are permitted by the government. Lastly, we have the chronosystem. The level includes how time is related to the child's environment. Elements that can be included in this ecological division include physiological changes that occur as the child grows and the timing of the death of a parent (Hess and Schultz, 2008).
It is essential for parents to learn the Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory. Children cannot exist on their own without being affected by peers, community, teachers, and their families. In fact, children are much influenced by the world around them. Parents, teachers, and caregivers are all part of the newly adopted child's microsystem (Hess and Schultz, 2008). Therefore, parents of the child should be aware of this and therefore ensure they create positive interactions with these elements of the child's ecosystem so that they form a balance for his growth and development. For instance, parents and teachers should communicate frequently and work towards a similar goal, like encouraging the child's interest in reading and developing a good character.
The most effective and beneficial parenting style for the child is authoritative parenting. Parents who are authoritative are easy to recognize because they have high expectations for their children but understand and support their children. The form of parenting creates a healthy environment for a child and help in fostering a relationship that is produced between the child and the parent. The parents should be responsive and demanding. They should be assertive but make are they are not restrictive or intrusive. An assertive parent wants their child to be confident, socially responsible, and self-regulated (Sameroff, 2010). The most important trait of these parents is that they are open to communicating with their children. Parents who can foster an environment where they interact with their children without reprimanding or judging them will have an insight into their children's life. Therefore, they will efficiently understand and provide the child with a deeper understanding of the environment around them.
McDevitt and Ormrod argue that because of financial reasons, parents who want to stay home and take care of their children cannot do that. A center-based care facility, commonly referred to as daycare facilities are the best childcare option during and before preschool. Toddlers require a lot of attention as they begin to develop the process of learning and the desire to socialize. Daycares provide excellent care to the child. They have a healthy and proper routine and a schedule that allows education and teacher structured and independent play. Teachers present in daycare facilities have been educated on how to work and teach small children. Therefore, they know what they should look for so that they can improve the play and the learning experience of the child (2010).
Social factors that influence the selection of a particular childcare facility include the quality of care provided and practical concerns. The quality of childcare offered in daycare facilities is the best because the caregivers are trained in taking care of children as they provide structured learning experiences and an opportunity for social development of the child (McDevitt and Ormrod, 2010). Practical concerns in daycare facilities are also handled as daycares provide individualized and structured play. The routine in childcare facilities is also beneficial to the development and growth of a child.
Technology has been an integrated part of our lives today. For children, computers, tablets, mobile phones, and televisions are part of their everyday fun. Screen technology, which includes games and viewing TVs, is a significant influence on how the child learns, socializes and has fun. Several health risks for kids have been linked to spending a lot of time on using gadgets and staying in front of screens. As a parent, you should ensure your child remains healthy and safe as they emulate a lot of technology devices. One safe technology use for a child is ensuring that whenever that child has free time, he does not spend it all in front of the screen (Cristia et al ., 2017). Parents should help their children learn that free time is not screen time. There are many other activities that a child can do and enjoy. Therefore, a parent should introduce other activities like toys, bike rides and dancing sessions to the child during free time. Also, a parent should monitor what his or her child views on TV and the games they play. Once in a while, a parent should check and see what the kid is viewing.
Besides technology, media also plays a prominent role in the development and growth of children. Media scenes can cause both negative and positive influences on our children, depending on the kind of content they are viewing. The media is neither good nor bad as it can be used in many different ways. Media products that are of good quality are useful in positively impacting on a child's life. For instance, educational children programs encourage children to be prepared for school. They also help them develop an urge and desire to school (Cristia et al ., 2017). However, the media can also be a bad influence on a child. For instance, television programs and video games that show routine violence are popular around the globe but affect children mentally, socially and behaviorally (aggressive behavior). In most occasions, media violence has been associated with several anti-social activities that are not beneficial to the child's healthy development and well-being. The absence of fairness when representing diversity in geography, disability, religion, ethnicity, age, race, and class has promoted a view of a discriminatory and limited world for children hence affect how they perceive themselves (Cristia et al ., 2017).
The degree in which a person has been acculturated to his or her dominant culture influences his or her ethnic group membership. Identification of one's ethnic group creates real self-awareness within the group. Ethnic identity is essential for a person, and it provides a historical continuity, a sense of belonging and a foundation to build self-concept (Sameroff, 2010). Therefore, ethnic identity is a constituent of one's self-concept which develops from his or her knowledge of membership in a specific cultural group and the emotional significance or value that is connected to that sense of belonging.
Sameroff (2010) notes that children build views on their self-concept through engaging in interacts that are provided by caregivers. The provided interactions should align with the cultural beliefs on human nature. As a parent, you should develop a sense of belonging to the child's culture, which in turn support the child's self-esteem and cultural identity development. Through speaking the cultural language at home, telling the child stories about that culture, and building routines, traditions, and relationships with the culture of the child. Through sharing with the child cultural practices and stories, he or she will be able to connect with his or her heritage.
The self-esteem of a child develops over time. There are many ways in which a parent can improve the self-esteem of a child. The first way is to praise the child, but ensure you do it wisely. Praising your child makes them know that you are proud of them and they become happy when they are appreciated. However, only do it when you are sure they deserve. Praise should be offered when the child has made an effort, has a right attitude or has progressed. Through praising your child, his self-esteem improves. The second method is to display consistent and appropriate discipline to the child. A parent who has clear limits when it comes to child discipline helps the child to learn the art of taking responsibility for actions done. You should choose which battles of your child to intervene, keep calm and give them time to change bad behavior before punishing them (Sameroff, 2010).
Children should learn skills of socializing both at home and in school. Children are natural egocentrics. They think they are the center of their world from birth. Therefore, it takes training and development for a child to learn how to think of others as well. Socialization at home includes how parents respond to their cries and how they are treated (either lovingly or as a distraction). Socialization in school involves how to deal with new expectation, how to interact with strange children and how to work with others (Sameroff, 2010). The importance of socialization at home is that it helps in developing the child's personality while socialization at school helps the child to create opportunities for influencing each other. Socialization at home will enable the child to learn his home culture and emulate characters from his parents. Further, according to Sameroff, home socialization helps a child to learn how to relate to his family and develop a personality that is in the family. Socialization is school helps a child learn how to associate with other children, different characters, and adults who are not his family (2010).
Teachers are very influential when it comes to socialization in a child's life. Through learning socialization in school, a child can nurture skills such as kindness and generosity. A teacher is essential to the effect of the child's perception of socialization. Through direct examples set by the teacher, a child can nurture care and acceptance for other children (Grusec and Davidov, 2010). A child who feels cared for and accepted by the teacher can develop great socialization skills and be happy. A teacher should be wise to guide children with compassion and teach them through play. For instance, a school and teachers should be extremely organized in their schedules. Children would feel secure in an environment that is orderly. Also, the organization makes children happy and enhance their social skills.
Positive peer interactions are described as interactions between peers that are successful and positive. Peer interactions are crucial because they result in positive emotional and social development in a child (Grusec and Davidov, 2010). Children who successfully interact with peers have friendships that are stronger, are included in most classroom activities and become famous. Making friends is vital in the life a child. Skills that are required for building and nurturing friendships once instilled in a child's lifetime will endure even when the child is an adult. A parent can help a child develop friendships through setting play dates with children that your child likes staying around. A child naturally gravitates towards some children and not others (Sameroff, 2010). Meeting at the park with them or going to a playground is incredible. A parent should also give the child an opportunity to make friends with other children. For instance, taking a child who likes music to music classes to meet other kids will enable him to make new friends.
In summary, a sociologist’s career roles includes interpretation and finding solutions to social problems. Particularly, in this case, a sociologist would help the two new parents understand and put in place measures to help their adopted child develop well in line with the existing evidence-based development and learning models. Understanding the nature of families and children as far society is concerned is equally beneficial in the sociologist’s profession. Such an understanding will help a professional know the importance of having positive parenting and therefore be able to help the society at large in developing good and successful parenting and teaching strategies. In this way, these children and members of society will have few challenges in socializing with other people in different social environments (McDevitt and Ormrod, 2010). McDevitt and Ormrod (2010) further acknowledge that knowledge on theories of socialization will positively impact in the student’s future career as a sociologist. Socialization theories include learning culturally defined gender roles. As a sociologist, this will help me to advise my clients well on social boundaries depending on their gender. Lastly, a sociologist is able to explain acceptable practices in society that are gender regulated.
References
Cristia, J., Ibarraran, P., Cueto, S., Santiago, A., & Severin, E. (2017). Technology and Child Development: Evidence from the One Laptop per Child Program . American economic journal. Applied economics , (3). 295.
Grusec, J. E., & Davidov, M. (2010). Integrating different perspectives on socialization theory and research: A domain ‐ specific approach. Child development , 81 (3), 687-709.
Hess, S. A., & Schultz, J. M. (2008). Bronfenbrenner’s ecological model. Lenses: applying lifespan development theories in counseling , 52.
McDevitt, T. M., & Ormrod, J. E. (2010). Child development and education . Pearson College Division.
Sameroff, A. (2010). A unified theory of development: A dialectic integration of nature and nurture. Child development , 81 (1), 6-22.
