Social Development

Bio-ecological Systems Theory looks at a child’s development within context of the system of relationships that form his/her development. It defines complex layers of the environment, each having a n effect on the child’s development. It emphasize that a childs own biology is a primary environment that fuels the development systems. The development is steered by the relationships between the different systems. If it happens that there is conflict in one of the layers, it will have an effect on the other layers as well. To understand a childs development we must look at the child’s immediate environment, and also at the interaction between the different layers and the larger environment.

The environment consists of the following layers:

* Micro- This is the environment closest to the child, his/her immediate surroundings. Home, parents, school, friends etc.

* Meso- This layer connects the structures of the micro system. Example: childs parents and teacher, chuch and neighbourhood.

* Exo- Larger social system. The child doesn’t function directly with this system.

* Macro- Far from thye child’s daily function. Customs, cultural values , laws.

If we look at the above information of the theory it is clear that it has a great influence on the childs daily development. All the systems are in a relationship and depends on one another. If the child is having problems at home,like his parents are fighting, then it will have a influence on his daily behaviour, his schoolwork and so forth.

The theory shows me that if there is a child with a learning barrier, then surely there is something wrong in one of the systems, and this has a multiplying effect and influences the other systems. So if we can identify the problem then we can try to balance the systems again, and so help the child with the barrier.

CASE:

During my service learning I have worked with alot of children. I realised the one boy I am working with found it extremely difficult to write work...