My World
My world is based on a child’s circle of systems, their microsystem (Bronfenbrenner’s theory). It is the first level of the five ecological systems and represents in pictorial form the things that have direct contact with a child in their immediate environment.
- Immediate family (parents, siblings, grandparents)
• School environment (teachers, classmates)
• Peer group and close friends
• Extracurricular activities (sports teams, clubs)
• Healthcare providers (paediatrician, dentist)
• Neighbourhood playmates
• Childcare arrangements
My world reflects a child or young person’s world they live in and navigate. Who is in their microsystem? There is a shop, a school, a health centre, a community club, a family time tent and a park. There are also 3 homes, one represents where the child lives, the other 2 are for what other homes they sleep in or spend time in, or would like to spend time in. Each roof is left white so the user can colour the roof matching the Moodlins emotion chart and colour of how they feel when they are in that particular home.
The buildings in the map each have an area to colour reflecting how the child feels when they are there. Who do they go with? What do they do there? How do they feel when there?
There is a bus stop, an airport and a train station if a child travels to see a parent, or a family member etc which can also be coloured in.
My World direct work sheet can open conversations. It is used as part of your assessment or to test your hypothesis evidencing from the child’s perspective of what systems they navigate and how they feel about it. Is the child safe in their environment? Do they have worries about being in a particular house or place? Are they happy or do they want to do more like access a particular club?
The family time tent is versatile. If a child is in care this could reflect how they feel about seeing certain family members at family time. If they are not looked after it can be used to simply ask what they do with their family for fun. Do they have movie nights, go to the cinema, football together etc.
My world will open conversation and offer you an insight into the child’s world. It can be used for evidence, for assessments and to photograph to upload on the child’s file. If the child doesn’t want to talk to you, or non-verbal, they can still colour how they are feeling.
