Living and learning environments

How children learn and develop can be influenced by a number of interacting factors between individuals and the people and environments around them. For the majority of children, the most influential relationships and interactions are with their parents and family.

However, children are also strongly influenced by the relationships they form at childcare and school, with their extended family and in their neighbourhood and community, and by their parents’ workplace, local industry and politics, mass media and social and health services.

This research stream goes beyond the family context to looks at ways we can enhance the living and learning environments of children to support their learning, health and wellbeing.