How Environment Impacts Child

A child welfare organization, Hope Children's Home (hopechildrenshome.org) serves children from infancy to 18 years of age. Based in Tampa, Florida, Hope Children's Home has rescued nearly 5,000 kids since its founding in 1968.

Social environments - which encompass social relationships, physical surroundings, and community resources - play an integral role in the development of children. Good physical surroundings are important because they improve the overall health of children. Frequent moving makes developing supportive social relationships difficult, and poor education facilities lead to few job opportunities and prospects

Community resources have a two-fold effect on children. Resources help adults become better parents. Adults can find the support they need to properly care for their kids and gain a stronger understanding of the caregiving their children need. Kids, meanwhile, receive support from the community so they are not solely reliant on their parents.

Finally, a child’s social relationships enforce healthy behavior and improve their sense of belonging. This and other factors that impact a child’s environment help prevent school readiness deficits, language development issues, and behavioral problems.