Different Factors in Child Development Essay Example

level of Bronfenbrenner's theory, and it is the largest surrounding that affects the growth and development of a child significantly. This level comprises the cultural surrounding where a child lives and every other system that influences the child. For example cultural values, the economy, as well as political system, affect the growth of a child, and the effect can be positive or negative. The last level of Bronfenbrenner’s theory is chronosystem. It comprises of all the experiences that an individual has come across in a life time and includes first life transitions, environment as well as historical events.

The Bronfenbrenner’s theory of development is reflected in vignette case. The microsystem is the first level in the theory, and it is the immediate environment that affects the growth and development of a child (Bronfenbrenner & Morris, 2007). In Vignette, the direct environment of the child is the mother. The mother seems quite busy while ironing clothes till 2 or 3 a.m. There is little interaction between the mother and the child. During this time, the child never approaches his mother since he feels that she works harm to make him feel guilty and whenever she is interrupted she becomes moody. As a result, the child develops fear and guilt, and this affects his growth and development. This concept explains the example I have chosen because immediate environment plays a critical role in child learning. The child develops a negative attitude since he lacks attention from his mother.

The mesosystem level entails interactions of varied aspects of the microsystem (Bronfenbrenner & Morris, 2007). In the vignette, all the microsystem does not function together. The child’s family is in crisis,

and everyone reacts in a different way. For instance, the father lies and makes up the stories that tend to make him a better man. The middle sister seems not to be affected, but she is full of emotions. The little sister gets angry abruptly and moves away from the family. Thus, there is no unity in the entire family in the family, and this would make the child fail to value the importance of unity within the family. This concept explains the concept I have chosen since the aspects of microsystem must function together to promote positive growth and development of a child.

At exosystem stage, the child is not a direct a direct participant but the setting tends to influence his life (Underdown, 2007). In the vignette, what the child’s mother does for living influences the life of a child. She concentrates too much on the work and does not have much time to spend with the child. As a result, the child feels that his mother works so hard to make him feel guilty. Additionally, the child feels that interrupting his mother while performing these tasks would make her develop a bad mood, and this has an adverse effect on the child’s growth and development. This concept explains the example I have chosen since parental care to the child is important as it gives fosters positive development as a result of parental love.

Macrosystem as the fourth level of Brofenbrenner’s theory influences child growth and development more than other levels (Shaffer & Kipp, 2014). The family lives in a middle-class estate in a fairly large house. The socioeconomic status of the family as explained

in vignette influences child’s growth and development. It shows that the family is well up, and it does not struggle to meet basic needs which include shelter and other necessities. If a child grows in a low-income family that struggles to meet basic needs, the child is likely to feel inferior. Fortunately, in vignette, the child is likely to develop a positive attitude towards life since he does not feel being inferior. This concept explains the example I have chosen because socioeconomic status is among the components that make up macrosystem. The socioeconomic status affects the psychological health of a child during growth.

Chronosystem being the last stage of Brofenbrenner’s theory has a significant influence on the growth and development of a child (Bronfenbrenner & Morris, 2007). Every experience the child has had in his life will affect his future. For instance, the child is brought up in an environment that does not encourage and nurture him to face life challenges. There is no unity in the family, and some of the individuals find themselves in identical crisis. The child may not be able to cope well with some of the challenges that require encouragement, particularly from the parents. The child may also not be in a position to foster a healthy relationship with others since he has not learned how to relate well with other people. This concept explains the example I have chosen since the environment is one of the primary components of a chronosystem. An individual learns from the surrounding and applies it in real life situation.

Conclusion

As explained by Bronfenbrenner’s theory, all the five levels play a critical role in the growth and

development of a child. Caring, encouraging and nurturing environment have a positive impact. Lack of care and encouraging surrounding has a negative growth and development of a child.

References

• Bronfenbrenner, U., & Morris, P. A. (2007). The bioecological model of human development. Handbook of Child Psychology, 1, 793-828.
• Shaffer, D. R., & Kipp, K. (2014). Developmental psychology: Childhood and adolescence. Australia: Wadsworth.
• Underdown, A. (2007). Young children's health and well-being. Maidenhead (GB: Open University Press. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press.