The Influence of the Environment on a Growing Child - Report Example

This paper is going to focus on the influence of environment on a growing child and how it affects the social ecology of a child both in positive and negative ways. As the child matures, his development takes place within what is known as nested systems. These nested systems may include; a micro system which simply refers to the immediate environment of the child such as the classroom and the family. Secondly, there is the mesosystem that simply refers to two Microsystems in interaction. The third is a method that influences the development of a child for example the parental workplace and can be referred to in simple terms as the exosystem. The final nested system is the macrosystem. In a macrosystem the child is exposed to larger cultural context. According to Urie Bronfenbrenner (1917), every nested system contains norms and roles that can to a great extend dictate the character development of a child. In a microsystem the growth and development of the child is influenced and can be attributed to such factors as family/mother, school teacher, neighborhood peers, church / Sunday school leaders and child center nurses. At the age of 4-5 years when I was still in kindergarten my mother played a very important a role at this stage. She was the one who made sure that I woke up on time to get to school. She used to make sure that my stomach was full and that I also had enough packed meal to carry to school. My clothes were cleaned by my mother and I was bathed by her, hence my personal hygiene was taken care of by my own mother. In extension at my tender age it is safe to conclude that I was nothing without my mother for I had everything done for me by her. The positive role and responsibilities that my mother undertook when I was still at this tender age helped shape my character in that the bond between me and her or what I can otherwise refer to as the maternal love became so strong. According to Susan S.Lang. (2004), the growth and development of the human species must be influenced by the family and that this is one of the most important factors in the ecology of the human development. As a person my development in childhood was never in isolation. As is the case with many father figures in our society my father was a strict disciplinarian and was very busy with work and so we used to meet only during dinner time at home. I used to fear him a lot for he did not entertain any behaviors that were that fell short of his to his expectations. His authoritative nature shaped my perception towards him for I used to experience some kind of fear towards him even as a young adult. As an adult I realized that the characters acquired from the family were rigid as compared to behaviors acquired from other people as they are flexible. Apart from the family the peer group has been known to shape the development of a person especially the adolescents and the young adults (The family from a child development perspective, 2009). One may pick such queer behaviors as extreme love for partying just because his or her friends are dong it or because it is a trend associated with most of the people of his or her age. Sunday school/ Mosque can shape the attitude of a child towards. This Sunday school/Mosque teacher imparts strong religious doctrines and teachings that make the child or young person have very strong values in life. For instance the children in the Muslim world are made to memorize the Qumran through rote learning. Through these religious teachings the children and the young adults are for instance taught the mode of dressing or behavior that identifies with their religion. In the Sunday school the child may be taught that such behaviors as stealing, fornication and adultery are bad. In SaskEd (2009) it has been noted that people have need for positive regard and they want to be loved and respected; this is why the children are dependant on the direction provided with such people as their parents, teachers and peer groups. For example, as a child I used to listen to what the Sunday school teacher was teaching and the type of songs that he taught us during these Sunday school sessions. When at home or school I could find myself sing or practicing what I had been taught during the Sunday school. For a child to be able to achieve his or her potential there should be cohesion in the family. This experience as a child has shaped me as person. As an individual I have partly fulfilled my potential for I have been able to acquire University education. Although my father was a little bit harsh during my early childhood years he has played a very important in my educational success. Had it not been for his authoritative nature I don’t think I would have been able to achieve the little that I have. Both parents have therefore played an important role in my life for one was harsh and the other one soft. The acquisition of these traits has made me balanced person. Apart from the people that the child has a directly active relationship with during his growth, his development is also affected by the relationship or the connection of these same people that are in the child’s microsystem (mesosystem). According to Huitt, W. (2003), the mesosystem has an intermediate level of influences like social institutions concerned with tasks like transportation, news organizations and entertainment. A developing child can only experience the impact of these institutions, when filtered through the microsystem institution.( Susan S.Lang 2004). As a child at the age of ten, my parents had a very good relationship with my English class teacher. Unfortunately this did not automatically mean that I would gain any special attention or favors from this particular teacher. As a matter of fact, the teacher used to hate me so much that she, that she could call my parents and tell them my performance in class was below average and insisted I had to repeat my fourth class while I was among the best top ten students in at the time. I could be told at home that I had misbehaved in school whereas I had done nothing wrong. This influenced me negatively as I started thinking the teacher didn’t want me and created a negative attitude towards her class lessons. Eventually I nurtured a feeling of hatred towards the teacher. Although the relationship between my parents and the teacher was good, it was never the case with me. According to Bronfenbrenner model, the quality of the child’s mesosystem is determined by child’s initiative and the parents’ involvement in connecting the home and the school. (Urie Bronfenbrenner,1999). The relationship between the father and the mother is very much important in creating a mesosystem for a child. In case the parents are separated or are having some kind of friction in their relationship then the child is more likely to suffer emotionally. This is more so the case if the child comes from a nuclear household where there is high friction. Compared to children that are raised in household that has little or no conflict at all, those raised in households full of conflict will experience emotional and psychological stress that will impact negatively on their health. Conflicts in nuclear relationship is sometimes brought about by aggressive behavior from either of the parent; abandoning responsibility to your spouse and children. Aggressive behavior that is exhibited by either parent can be picked a child which can shape his or her future behavior. In this case therefore, if the links among settings are more diverse and strong the result will be a more powerful influence on the child’s development. The macro system, which is the outer system of ecology involving cultural context in which we live in is another aspect that impacts on the development of a child. A macrosystem has to do with issues that affect the larger society and the interrelationships that shape the human development. Macro systems simply offer wide-ranging ideological and organizational patterns within which the meso and exo systems mirror the ecology of human development. Macro systems are affected by such global issues as discrimination, social tolerance, immigration, economic recession, war and technological changes. Macro systems usually change through evolution and revolution. (SaskEd, 2009).Such social problems like the huge disparity between the haves and have-nots affected me as a child. As child you cannot get access to quality education, healthcare and other services simply because your parent can’t afford it. It was extremely embarrassing to have a friend who had everything while my parents were struggling to make ends meet such things like economic recession can affect the child if the parents for instance cut down on expenditure that goes to a child’s recreation. A child is supposed to be engaged in social and recreational activities. If a child is denied these privileges it will hinder his/personal growth and development. Poverty can sometimes be very dehumanizing. A child that is raised up in squalor will be subjected to conditions that can shape his or her character negatively. The child is more likely to be involved in such social vices like crime and prostitution. As a child I was raised in a society where it takes the whole community to raise a child. This has more to do with culture whereby a child is faced by both the individual and the context within which the individual exists. Apart from the environmental factors there are genetic factors (nature) that plays a role in the development of a child. (Urie Bronfenbrenner1999).The genetic or hereditary factors can affect the cognitive dimension of the child. The biology of an individual therefore is very significant for it is one of the key drivers of the child development. Although the biological makeup influences ones behavior it only works with environmental factors. Therefore as a child there should always be interaction between the child and the environment if the full potential of the child s to be realized. The relationship is almost reciprocal for the environment changes the individual and the individual changes the environment. Human attributes such as attitudes towards life, hereditary, personality and emotions, behavioral characteristics and cognitive abilities are unique for every individual for each and every individual has exceptional combination of biology, ecology and life experience. References Huitt, W. (2003). A systems model of human behavior. Online available. Retrieved 13th May 2009 from http://chiron.valdosta.edu/whuitt/materials/sysmdlo.html. SaskEd (2009), Psychodynamic Perspective: Focusing on the inner person. Online available:http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/docs/social/psych30/support_materials/theoretical_perspectives_hd.htm.(13th May 2009). Susan S.Lang (2004), Urie Bronfenbrenner authors new work: 'Making Human Beings Human'. Online available. http://www.news.cornell.edu/chronicle/04/9.23.04/Urie _Bronfenbrenner_book.html (13th May 2009). The family from a child development perspective. Online available. http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/uu13se/uu13se06.htm. (13th May 2009). Urie Bronfenbrenner (1917), Theories of Development. Online available: http://social.jrank.org/pages/113/Bronfenbrenner-Urie-1917.html. (13th May 2009). Urie Bronfenbrenner(1999), Growing Chaos in the Lives of Children Youth and Families: How Can We Turn It Around? Online available: http://parenthood.library.wisc.edu/Bronfenbrenner/Bronfenbrenner.html. 15th May 2009. Read More

kEd (2009) it has been noted that people have need for positive regard and they want to be loved and respected; this is why the children are dependant on the direction provided with such people as their parents, teachers and peer groups. For example, as a child I used to listen to what the Sunday school teacher was teaching and the type of songs that he taught us during these Sunday school sessions. When at home or school I could find myself sing or practicing what I had been taught during the Sunday school.

For a child to be able to achieve his or her potential there should be cohesion in the family. This experience as a child has shaped me as person. As an individual I have partly fulfilled my potential for I have been able to acquire University education. Although my father was a little bit harsh during my early childhood years he has played a very important in my educational success. Had it not been for his authoritative nature I don’t think I would have been able to achieve the little that I have.

Both parents have therefore played an important role in my life for one was harsh and the other one soft. The acquisition of these traits has made me balanced person. Apart from the people that the child has a directly active relationship with during his growth, his development is also affected by the relationship or the connection of these same people that are in the child’s microsystem (mesosystem). According to Huitt, W. (2003), the mesosystem has an intermediate level of influences like social institutions concerned with tasks like transportation, news organizations and entertainment.

A developing child can only experience the impact of these institutions, when filtered through the microsystem institution.( Susan S.Lang 2004). As a child at the age of ten, my parents had a very good relationship with my English class teacher. Unfortunately this did not automatically mean that I would gain any special attention or favors from this particular teacher. As a matter of fact, the teacher used to hate me so much that she, that she could call my parents and tell them my performance in class was below average and insisted I had to repeat my fourth class while I was among the best top ten students in at the time.

I could be told at home that I had misbehaved in school whereas I had done nothing wrong. This influenced me negatively as I started thinking the teacher didn’t want me and created a negative attitude towards her class lessons. Eventually I nurtured a feeling of hatred towards the teacher. Although the relationship between my parents and the teacher was good, it was never the case with me. According to Bronfenbrenner model, the quality of the child’s mesosystem is determined by child’s initiative and the parents’ involvement in connecting the home and the school.

(Urie Bronfenbrenner,1999). The relationship between the father and the mother is very much important in creating a mesosystem for a child. In case the parents are separated or are having some kind of friction in their relationship then the child is more likely to suffer emotionally. This is more so the case if the child comes from a nuclear household where there is high friction. Compared to children that are raised in household that has little or no conflict at all, those raised in households full of conflict will experience emotional and psychological stress that will impact negatively on their health.

Conflicts in nuclear relationship is sometimes brought about by aggressive behavior from either of the parent; abandoning responsibility to your spouse and children. Aggressive behavior that is exhibited by either parent can be picked a child which can shape his or her future behavior. In this case therefore, if the links among settings are more diverse and strong the result will be a more powerful influence on the child’s development. The macro system, which is the outer system of ecology involving cultural context in which we live in is another aspect that impacts on the development of a child.

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