1. Ecology of childhood
What makes us who we are? Every human being is unique. Though we may share many qualities with others, there are no two beings who are exactly the same. Even identical twins differ from each other as they grow up.
Children come into the world with unique genetic predispositions that listen and respond to the world around them. From conception on, a child’s world is shaped by other individuals, available resources, opportunities, and cultural patterns. Because each child is different, children who experience similar environments can have very different outcomes. In turn, children themselves affect their environments.
Think about the immense variation of geography, cultures, sociopolitical circumstances and, economies around our world.
Ecology is the study of the relationship between organisms and their environment. In this module, you will read about the relationship between children and their environments, specifically, the influence of the environments surrounding children on their development.
Think about your own childhood. How would you describe the people, places and events that remain significant memories for you?
How do you think these may have influenced your development?
