Bronfenbrenner's Ecological System

Question 1

What is Bronfenbrenner’s ecological system?

Answer 1

It views child development as a complex system of a relationship affected by multiple levels of the surrounding environment.

There are 5 levels in Bronfenbrenner’s discovery.

Question 2

What are the 5 levels of his ecological system?

Answer 2

1. Microsystem.
2. Mesosystem.
3. Exosystem.
4. Macrosystem.
5. Chronosystem.

Question 3

What is the microsystem?

Answer 3

Immediate family and home environment.

Most influential level of his ecological system.

E.G parents, siblings, key worker in nursery, friends from clubs (swimming)

Question 4

What is the mesosystem?

Answer 4

2 or more microsystems coming together.

E.G parents going into their child’s nursery to talk to their key worker.

Question 5

What is the exosystem?

Answer 5

Individuals that are not actively present everyday.

E.G extended family, neighbours.

Question 6

What is the macrosystem?

Answer 6

Involves economic and cultural society they live in.

Family and child have no control over it.

E.G guests from community, government cuts funding for tax credits.

Question 7

What is the chronosystem?

Answer 7

How the systems can change over time due to life events.

E.G divorce, bereavement.

Question 8

How are these applied to early years settings?

Answer 8

Trips or visits (macrosystem)

Dressing up/roleplay (reinforcing learning from macrosystem)

Parents invited to the setting (mesosystem)