Family Systems Theories

Family systems theories refers to multiple perspectives on family interactions through the lens of the entire family. These approaches take into account the complexity of relationships within families. National standards for early childhood teacher preparation indicate that candidates for licensure should be well versed in many theories of child development and family studies, including family systems theories. However, Linda Garris Christian noted a decade ago that family systems viewpoints are too rarely included as key factors in early childhood education. Still, little has changed in the United States in relation to the inclusion of systems understanding for partnerships with families. Just as deep knowledge of child development benefits early childhood teachers as they plan and implement developmentally appropriate practices in a classroom, it is believed ...