In this free course, The family at the centre of early learning, you will explore the effect of family on children’s early development. The eminent child psychologist Urie Bronfenbrenner remarked, ‘every child needs an adult who is crazy about him (or her) in order to grow up’ (Bronfenbrenner, cited in Penn, 2008, p. 46). Such key adults are often found within the family, making this social group significant for young people throughout their childhood and beyond. For young children the family is the foundation for their developing sense of belonging and self-identity. It also stands at the centre of their early learning.