How Environments Shape Our Children: A Look at Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological Theory

By Sally Cote

Educator. Doula. Lifelong Learner.

When it comes to understanding how children grow, think, and thrive, we often lean on familiar names like Piaget or Erikson. But this time, I chose to step outside my usual comfort zone and explore a theory that speaks directly to the environments that shape us—Urie Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological Theory of Development.

Looking at the World Through Bronfenbrenner’s Lens

Bronfenbrenner didn’t just look at what children do—he looked at where they do it, and with whom. His theory outlines five interconnected systems that influence development, starting at the center with the child’s closest relationships and expanding outward.

Let’s take a look at these systems in real-life terms:

• Microsystem: This is the child’s immediate world—parents, siblings, caregivers, and the home itself. It’s the cozy, familiar base from which all learning begins.

• Mesosystem: These are the connections between different parts of a child’s life—like when the home life and school life intersect. I’ve always loved watching students light up (or get adorably confused) when they spot me in the grocery store—“Wait… teachers go shopping?”

• Exosystem: This includes the larger influences that affect a child indirectly. Think: a parent’s workplace, local policies, or even a community resource like the YMCA.

• Macrosystem: Here we find the cultural, political, and societal beliefs that surround us—things like religion, economic systems, and cultural norms.

• Chronosystem: And finally, time. Life events, transitions, and historical moments all play their part. When I became widowed, my children were just two and five. Eleven years later, we’ve grown and evolved. Life doesn’t stop—and neither does development.

What the Research Says

To deepen my understanding, I explored three texts focused on Bronfenbrenner’s work and how it’s been applied in today’s world.

1. Reviewing Bronfenbrenner’s Theory in Global Contexts

Peiru Tong and Irene Shidong An (2024) examined how Bronfenbrenner’s theory has been used in international and intercultural education research. They discovered that while his early work is often cited, many scholars overlook his later, more nuanced Process-Person-Context-Time (PPCT) model.

This model digs deeper—it’s not just about where the child is, but how they engage over time with their environments. Unfortunately, the researchers found that the full power of this theory is underrepresented in global research. This made me pause and ask: Are we using the most complete and culturally sensitive tools available to understand development?

2. The School Environment and Belonging

Another article, "How the Bronfenbrenner Bio-ecological System Theory Explains the Development of Students’ Sense of Belonging to School?" (El Zaatari & Maalouf, 2022), explores how Bronfenbrenner’s theory applies to school-aged children. It specifically looks at how a child’s sense of belonging is shaped through relationships with peers, teachers, and the school environment over time.

It’s a reminder that academic success isn't just about reading or math scores. It’s deeply rooted in social-emotional development—feeling safe, seen, and connected within a learning environment.

3. Bronfenbrenner in His Own Words

Of course, I couldn’t explore this theory without going straight to the source. In his landmark book The Ecology of Human Development, Bronfenbrenner emphasized that development doesn’t happen in a vacuum—it happens through ongoing, dynamic interactions between individuals and the systems they live in.

He focuses on three major developmental domains:

• Cognitive: How we think and reason

• Social-emotional: How we relate and feel

• Moral identity: How we define ourselves and our values

It’s not just about growing up. It’s about becoming—and that becoming is always shaped by context.

Why It Matters to My Work

As someone who works with people from birth to old age—as a doula, parent educator, scout leader, and preschool teacher—I constantly see how context shapes behavior. Knowing Bronfenbrenner’s theory gives me a language and framework to understand my clients, students, and families better.

Whether I’m supporting a parent with a newborn or mentoring a teenager, I keep these questions in mind:

• What systems are influencing this person?

• How can I support their sense of belonging?

• What environmental changes could make a difference?

Bronfenbrenner reminds us that every child (and every adult) is deeply shaped by their world—and that change in the environment, even small change, can have a huge impact.

Final Thoughts

In a time when childhood feels more complex than ever—social media, climate change, shifting family structures—Bronfenbrenner’s theory is more relevant than ever. It challenges us to look beyond the individual and understand the powerful ecosystems that nurture (or hinder) development.

As educators, caregivers, and community members, we have the power to shape those ecosystems—and in doing so, help children become the best version of themselves.

References:

Tong, P., & An, I. S. (2024). Review of studies applying Bronfenbrenner's bioecological theory in international and intercultural education research. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1233925. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1233925El

Zaatari, W., & Maalouf, I. (2022). How the Bronfenbrenner bio-ecological system theory explains the development of students’ sense of belonging to school? SAGE Open, 12(4), 21582440221134089. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440221134089

Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The ecology of human development: Experiments by nature and design. Harvard University Press.