Today’s families face many stressors during the early childhood years. Particular stressors like homelessness, violence, and chemical dependence, play havoc with the family system. Urie Bronfenbrenner’s bio-ecological perspective offers an insightful lens for understanding and supporting families under stress. This article presents the key elements of Bronfenbrenner’s perspective and applies this perspective to strategies for effectively helping families under stress.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Bancroft L. (2004). When dad hurts mom. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, New York
Bateson M. C. (2000). Full circles, overlapping lives. Random House, New York
Berger L. (2005). Income, family characteristics, and physical violence toward children. Child Abuse & Neglect 29(2):107–133
Brazelton T., Greenspan S. (2000). The irreducible needs of children. Perseus Publishing, Cambridge, MA
Bromer J. (2002). Extended care: Family child care, family support, and Community development in low-income neighborhoods. Zero to Three 23(2):33–37
Bronfenbrenner U. (1979). Ecology of human development. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA
Bronfenbrenner U. (1989). Ecological systems theory. Annals of Child Development 6:185–246
Bronfenbrenner U. (2005). Making human beings human: Bioecological Perspectives on human development. Sage, Thousand Oaks, CA
Coloroso B. (2000). Parenting through crisis. Harper Collins, New York
Erickson M., Kurz-Riemer K. (1999). Infants, toddlers, and families: A framework for support and intervention. The Guilford Press, New York
Fals-Stewart W., Fincham F., Kelley M. (2004). Substance-abusing Parents’ attitudes toward allowing their custodial children to Participate in treatment: A comparison of mothers versus fathers. Journal of Family Psychology 18(4):666–671
Ford D., Lerner R. (1992). Developmental systems theory: An integrative approach. Sage, Newbury Park, CA
Galinsky E. (1999). Ask the children. William Morrow & Company, New York
Garbarino J. (1992). Children and families in the social environment. 2nd Edn. Aldine de Gruyter, New York
Gelles R. (1994). Family violence, abuse and neglect. In McKenry P., Price S. (eds), Families and change: Coping with stressful events. Sage, Thousand Oaks, CA
Groves B. (2002). Children who see too much: Lessons from the child witness to violence project. Beacon Press, Boston
Hallowell E. (2002). The childhood roots of adult happiness. Ballantine, New York
Heretick D. (2003). The empowered family: Raising responsible and Caring children in violent times. Mercy Health Partners, Toledo, OH
Heymann J. (2000). The widening gap: Why America’s working families are in jeopardy – and what can be done about it. Basic Books, New York
Jacobson N., Gottman J. (1998) When men batter women: New insights into ending abusive relationships. Simon & Schuster, New York
Karr-Morse R., Wiley M. (1997). Ghosts from the nursery: Tracing the roots of violence. The Atlantic Monthly Press, New York
L’Abate L. (1990). Building family competence. Sage, Newbury Park, CA
Marsiglia F., Miles B., Dustman P., Sills S. (2002). Ties that protect: An ecological perspective on Latino urban preadolescent drug use. Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work 11:191
Massey, M. (1998). Early childhood violence prevention. ERIC Digest (Online) Available: http://www.ericeece.org/pubs/digests/1998/massey98.html
National Coalition for the Homeless (1999). Why are people homeless? Author, Washington, DC, NCH Fact Sheet #1
Nuñez R. (1996). The new poverty: Homeless families in America. Insight Books, Plenum Press, New York
Payne R. (1996). A framework for understanding poverty. Aha Process, Highlands, TX
Peled, E., Jaffe, P., & Edleson, J. (Eds.) (1995). Ending the cycle of violence: Community responses to children of battered women. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
Pence, A. (Ed.) (1988). Ecological research with children and families. New York: Teachers College Press
Perry B. (1997). Incubated in terror: Neurodevelopmental factors in the ‘cycle of violence’. In: Osofsky J. (eds) Children, youth, and violence: The search for solutions. Guilford Press, New York
Pipher M. (1996). The shelter of each other: Rebuilding our families. Ballentine Books, New York
Pittman F. (1987). Turning points: Treating families in transition and crisis. W.W. Norton and Company, New York
Powell D. (1988). Client characteristics and the design of community-based intervention programs. In: Pence A. (eds), Ecological research with children and families. Teachers College Press, New York
Powell D. (1998). Reweaving parents into the fabric of early childhood Programs. Young Children 53(5):60–67
Rogoff B. (2003). The cultural nature of human development. Oxford University Press, New York
Rosier K. (2000). Mothering inner-city children: The early school Years. Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick, NJ
Swick K. (2001). Nurturing decency through caring and serving during the early childhood years. Early Childhood Education Journal, 29(2):131–138
Swick K. (2004). Empowering parents, families, schools and communities during the early childhood years. Stipes, Champaign, IL
Swick K. (2004a). The dynamics of families who are homeless: Implications for early childhood educators. Childhood Education 80(3):116–120
Swick K. (2005). Promoting caring in children and families as prevention of violence strategy. Early Childhood Education Journal 32(5):341–346
Swick K., Graves S. (1993). Empowering at-risk families during the early childhood years. National Education Association, Washington, DC
Swick K., Freeman N. (2004b). Nurturing peaceful children to create a Caring world: The role of families and communities. Childhood Education 81(1):2–8
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Swick, K., Williams, R. An Analysis of Bronfenbrenner’s Bio-Ecological Perspective for Early Childhood Educators: Implications for Working with Families Experiencing Stress. Early Childhood Educ J 33, 371–378 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-006-0078-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-006-0078-y