Child and Adolescent Development

Children and Adolescent Development - 2500

This essay discusses childhood development and the various theories and theorists that have certain preconceived ideas about childhood development, and whether development is related to either external of internal factors and/ or other variable factors. The word childhood has changed over time; children now have different experiences at different ages than previously. Childhood also changes depending on the cultural context that they are in. As the meaning of the word ‘childhood’ differs so greatly between generations and cultural context, is there a universal theory that can explain childhood development?

The convention on the rights of children 1991 is a universally agreed set of standards in relation to basic human rights that all children have, they define children as anyone up to the age of 18.

This essay discusses Bronfenbrenners ecological theory of development which suggests that a child develops in a particular way because of their external factors. Bronfenbrenners theory is related to Leanne in the case study provided, and from a social workers perspective on how suggested interventions come from this theory.

As each group of theories has a different method of approaching and analysing childhood development the essay looks at further theories from the disciplines of ecological, psychosocial and developmental.

Leanne’s experiences and impact upon her of being abused and neglected in her development will be discussed, looking into what abuse and neglect actually is and whether Leanne’s experiences would constitute being abused or neglected.

Throughout the essay the forms of interventions a social worker could take are discussed relating to each particular theory, and more specifically Leanne and her family.

Leanne’s experiences and developmental needs are different to that of other children of her age, this is because of her individual unique experiences she has been brought up with, due to having to cope with being a young carer.

To explain the extent to which social, cultural and environmental context has impacted on Leanne’s experiences and developmental needs the essay firstly looks at the theory from Bronfenbrenner’s ecological developmental theory.

Bronfenbrenner’s (1992) theory emphasises the broad environmental and interpersonal context of development, this shows that development does not occur in isolation but it is influenced by the whole context of a person’s life. Bronfenbrenner emphasises the extent of cultural influences at a range of levels. A diagram of Bronfenbrenner ecological development theory is shown below.

This theory enables the practitioner to view the service user and their family in a holistic way, and it also enables you to look at not only the relationships from the children to other social, cultural and environmental factors but these other external factors to each other as well. The ecological framework provides a structure within which professionals can examine the extent to which they have considered relevant factors that have an impact on children and families (Jones, 1999). This enables social workers to think about all the other areas that influence a Childs situation and development.

Bronfenbrenner uses the terms microsystems, exosystem and macrosystem, he suggests that the child is both influenced by and influences its environment at each level (Crawford; 2005).

The microsystem refers to those factors that are located in the immediate environments of the child such as the family members and daily routines, things that happen in the home. As they are closest to home these have the greatest impact on the child.  It will have a great impact on Leanne’s development, being a carer for her siblings and parents who are both visually impaired. Leanne sometimes takes out her frustration and anger on her younger brothers and sisters by treating them roughly which shows her dislike or unwillingness to take on this caring role, she is caring for them because she is forced to do so rather than wanting to do it, this will also have a detrimental impact on her sibling’s attachments.  

Join now!

Leanne never went to play-group or toddler-group, Algate (2006) suggests that going to school and nursery classes is a very significant stage as a lot is happening, such as “conceptual changes, social and emotional developments and changes in self-concept and morality”, therefore missing out on going to these will have a detrimental developmental impact on Leanne.

The next system is the exosystem, this is used to describe those factors that are beyond the immediate environment of the child, such as where the child lives and the neighbours. Leanne lives on a large estate on the outskirts of a ...

This is a preview of the whole essay