{"id":561,"date":"2011-11-21T18:10:05","date_gmt":"2011-11-21T18:10:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/?page_id=561"},"modified":"2026-10-19T18:58:43","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T18:58:43","slug":"the-ecology-of-childhood-3-3-building-child-friendly-societies","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/the-ecology-of-childhood-3-3-building-child-friendly-societies\/","title":{"rendered":"3.3 Creating child and family friendly communities"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Consider…<\/strong><\/p>\n

Barnes Early Childhood Centre<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nBarnes Street Early Childhood Centre located in downtown Toronto is on the ground floor of a large high rise condominium…Read more<\/a> <\/span><\/strong>\n<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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What do you think “it takes a child to raise a village” means?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What public policies do you think set the stage for the informal connections families made with each other?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the longer-term implications for these children?<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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About 5,000 children under six years live in 10 city blocks in downtown Toronto<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The daily lives of Canada\u2019s young children and their families reflect larger social and economic changes taking place in Canada and beyond. Most Canadian families live in urban settings – from small towns like Neepawa, Manitoba to big cities like Calgary, Alberta. Parents may leave their community for extensive periods of time to seek employment far way from home or to participate in the military. For most families with only one income, and even those with two incomes, it can be challenging to remain above the poverty line. Extended family members can live far away but stay in touch in ways not possible in the past. Online communication and telephone plans make weekly and even daily contact possible in spite of geographic separations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lives of Canadian families may be very different from 100 or 150 years ago. But what children need remains the same. Parents and families are central and parenting is a learned skill. The demands of raising children often compete with those of work inside and outside of the home, causing intense pressure for many families. Community can play an important role. When parents receive help and support from their communities and extended family members, families are strengthened and young children benefit from opportunities to play and learn with other children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The late Dr. Alan Mirabelli discusses the roles and responsibilities of families and communities.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\n VIEW<\/span>\n Mirabelli – public private responsibility (3:24)<\/span>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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