1. The Socialization of Children
Gonzalez-Mena, Child, Family, and Community: Family-Centered Early Care and Education, 6e.
© 2013, 2009, 2006, 2002, 1998 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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2. SOCIALIZATION
Gonzalez-Mena, Child, Family, and Community: Family-Centered Early Care and Education, 6e.
© 2013, 2009, 2006, 2002, 1998 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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3. FOUR SOCIALIZING AGENTS
•
•
•
•
Family
School
Peer group
Media
Family
School
Gonzalez-Mena, Child, Family, and Community: Family-Centered Early Care and Education, 6e.
© 2013, 2009, 2006, 2002, 1998 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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Peer
Group
Media

4. THE FAMILY
All families belong to “subcultures” and
networks that reflect:
• Social class
• Ethnic group
• Kinship
All of these influence the way children
are socialized.
Gonzalez-Mena, Child, Family, and Community: Family-Centered Early Care and Education, 6e.
© 2013, 2009, 2006, 2002, 1998 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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5. THE FAMILY (CONT.)
• Families organize
around…
• Occupation or
interests
• “Meaning” circles:
religion, spiritual
social justice
• Focus: school / work /
survival
• Status
Gonzalez-Mena, Child, Family, and Community: Family-Centered Early Care and Education, 6e.
© 2013, 2009, 2006, 2002, 1998 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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6. THE FAMILY (CONT.)
Bias is everywhere, it hurts everyone, even those
who perpetuate it. The first step is to become
aware of privilege as an aspect of bias
• Privilege: invisible / unearned assets
• Classism: may be hard to see
• Racism: individual / institutionalized
Do you see yourself as privileged because of
your race and/or ethnicity?
Gonzalez-Mena, Child, Family, and Community: Family-Centered Early Care and Education, 6e.
© 2013, 2009, 2006, 2002, 1998 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
2-6

7. SCHOOLS AS SOCIALIZING
AGENTS
• Continuity from preschool to
kindergarten (or lack thereof)
• Classroom behavioral expectations
• Capacity to respond
to diversity
• Inequity in schools
Gonzalez-Mena, Child, Family, and Community: Family-Centered Early Care and Education, 6e.
© 2013, 2009, 2006, 2002, 1998 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
2-7

8. PREPARATION FOR SCHOOL
• Children enter school with a wide range of skills,
background knowledge and life experiences
• Schools aim to socialize
children
• Goals for children
different according to
how they are “identified” or “tracked”
Gonzalez-Mena, Child, Family, and Community: Family-Centered Early Care and Education, 6e.
© 2013, 2009, 2006, 2002, 1998 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
2-8

9. CHILDREN WHO ARE READY…
• Feel good about
themselves
• Gain knowledge
from their mistakes
• Can communicate
• Can weigh
alternatives and
make sound choices
• Can concentrate and
focus
• What other qualities
can you add?
Gonzalez-Mena, Child, Family, and Community: Family-Centered Early Care and Education, 6e.
© 2013, 2009, 2006, 2002, 1998 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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10. PEER GROUP AS SOCIALIZING
AGENT
• Pairs
threesomes
small groups
• Choices are affected by gender and
proximity
• “Group mind” – behavior contagion
• Informal learning from peers
• Imagination increases with pretend play
Gonzalez-Mena, Child, Family, and Community: Family-Centered Early Care and Education, 6e.
© 2013, 2009, 2006, 2002, 1998 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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11. MEDIA AS A SOCIALIZING AGENT
•
•
•
•
•
•
Advertising
Print media
Radio
Computers / video games
Movies
Television
Gonzalez-Mena, Child, Family, and Community: Family-Centered Early Care and Education, 6e.
© 2013, 2009, 2006, 2002, 1998 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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12. TELEVISION
AND YOUNG
CHILDREN
• Do not expose infants to
television
• Examine your own
television habits
• Reduce risk of addiction
by avoiding exposure
altogether
• Watch with children
• Do not let TV viewing
take place of active play

13. COMMERCIAL
ADVERTISING
• Developmental researchers
agree that exposure to media
influences children.
• Commercial interests often
disagree with this research.
• In 1999, $12 billion was spent
on advertising aimed at
children.
Do you see a disconnect?
Gonzalez-Mena, Child, Family, and Community: Family-Centered Early Care and Education, 6e.
© 2013, 2009, 2006, 2002, 1998 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
2-13

14. VIOLENCE FACTS
• Average child has seen
8,000 murders and
100,000 acts of violence
during childhood
• Eight of ten programs
contain violence
• Prime-time programs
average five violent act
an hour
• Saturday morning
cartoons average 20 acts
per hour
Gonzalez-Mena, Child, Family, and Community: Family-Centered Early Care and Education, 6e.
© 2013, 2009, 2006, 2002, 1998 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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15. EFFECTS OF VIOLENT PROGRAMS
Gonzalez-Mena, Child, Family, and Community: Family-Centered Early Care and Education, 6e.
© 2013, 2009, 2006, 2002, 1998 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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16. LONG TERM LEGACY
Gonzalez-Mena, Child, Family, and Community: Family-Centered Early Care and Education, 6e.
© 2013, 2009, 2006, 2002, 1998 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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17. RESOURCES ABOUT MEDIA
• Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood
(CCFC)
• Effects of TV on Children
• American Psychologist Association Website
about Violence and Media
• TV and Children
Gonzalez-Mena, Child, Family, and Community: Family-Centered Early Care and Education, 6e.
© 2013, 2009, 2006, 2002, 1998 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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