According to ecological theory there are different levels of the environment that influence a child’s development and they are as follows:

Microsystem: This is the immediate environment that the child lives in. This includes immediate relatives, friends, caregivers and daycare. How different people who are in constant contact interact will the child, will determine how the child grows. The more encouraging and nurturing the relationships he has in his microsystem, the better the child will grow up.

Mesosystem: This is the next level which describes how different parts of a child’s microsystem work together for the child. For instance, if a parent takes active interest in the child’s school and extra-curricular activities, it will help the overall growth of the child. However, if a child’s mother along with step-father or father along with step-mother, give the child conflicting lessons, the child’s growth will be hindered in different ways.

Exosystem: This refers to people and places that the child himself does not interact with often but they have a profound affect on the child. These could be workplace of the parents, extended family, neighborhood etc. For example, if a child’s parent is laid off from work, it will have an effect, negative one, on the child as the parent will not be able to pay for many things. However, if the parent receives a raise, it will have a positive impact on the child.

Macrosystem: This is the largest and most remote set of people and things that have great influence over the child. Macrosystem includes freedom by the national government, cultural values, economy, wars etc. These things can either have a positive effect or a negative one on the child.