ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the geography of family life and child development, beginning with the community as the joint expression of the social and physical environment. The territory of childhood influences adults, particularly as they function in their roles as parents. The territory of childhood—the neighborhood and community—plays an important role in molding the child's experiences and in determining how well the child adapts to many individuals and situations. Local economic systems vary depending on the jobs, goods, and services provided by businesses and industries in that community. The substantial intercommunity variation in unemployment rates indicates the magnitude of economic differences in communities. There are several aspects of the family-community relationship that affect children and parents in the community. The family-work interface is a critical feature in any review of family life and its effects on child development. The home-school interface is perhaps the most widely recognized aspect of the family-community relationship.
