BRONFENBRENNE

R’S ECOLOGICAL
THEORY
 Bronfenbrenner’s model also known as the
Biological Systems theory presents child
development within the context of relationship
systems that compromise the child’s environment.

 Itdescribes layers of environment that has an effect

on the development of the child

 Through the child’s growing and developing body

and the interplay between his immediate
family/community environment, and the societal
landscape fuels and steers his development
BRONFENBRENNER’S
BIOLOGICAL MODEL:
STRUCTURE OF
ENVIRONMENT
 MICROSYSTEM
 Is the system nearest the child.

 It includes structures such as one’s family, school and

neighborhood.

 This means that the child is affected by people whom

he interacts, and in turn these people are also affected
by the child.

 At the microsystem level, the child is most affected by

these bi-directional influences
 MESOSYSTEM
 This layer serves as the connection between the
structures of the child’s microsystem.

 For example, the mesosystem will include the

link of interaction between the parents and
teachers, or the parent and health services or the
community and the church.
 EXOSYSTEM
 Thislayer refers to the bigger social system in which
the child does not function directly

 The structures in this layer may influence child’s

development by somehow affecting some structure
in the child’s development.

 The child may not interact directly with what is in

the exosystem, but he is likely feel positive or
negative impact this system creates as it interacts
with the childs own system.
 MACROSYSTEM
 This layer found in the outermost part in the
child’s environment.

 The macrosystem includes the cultural values,

customs, and laws.

 Because of differences in beliefs and customs,

children from different parts of the world
experience different child-rearing practices and
therefore differences in development as well.
 CHRONOSYSTEM
 The chronosystem covers the element of
time as it relates to a child’s environments.

 Thisinvolves “patterns of stability and

change” in the child’s life.

 As children get older, they may react

differently to environmental changes.
 Biological theory helps us
determine how the different
circumstances, conditions and
relationships in the world affect
the child as he or she goes
through the more or else
predictable sequence of natural
growth and development.
ROLE OF SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS
Brofenbrenner’s theory reminds the school
and the teachers of their very important
role. If there is a lack of support, care and
affection from the home, if there is a
serious breakdown of the basic
relationships in a child’s life, what can the
school, the teachers in particular do?