ABSTRACT

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book focuses on the development of competence—defined as the ability to succeed in life's major challenges. It begins with a discussion of Bronfenbrenner's ecological model. The book focuses on the model to analyze the issue of social risk and opportunity for children. It looks at the family as the primary environment for children. The book examines two fundamental topics: the child as a biological organism, and childbearing and child rearing. It explores the fundamental issues of identity and ethnicity. The book addresses the child's community and neighborhood. It outlines how human services and social policy work with regard to children. The book reviews the stages of development from conception through prenatal-perinatal development, early, middle, and late childhood. It concludes by setting the issues of children, family, and social environment in the broader perspective of the society's history and future.