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Review Paper | Sociology | Volume 15 Issue 7, July 2026 | Pages: 681 - 687 | India
The Influence of Family Environment on Children's Holistic Development: A Sociological Review
Abstract: The family is the first and most influential social institution in a child's life, playing a fundamental role in shaping physical, cognitive, emotional, social, moral, and behavioural development. As the primary agent of socialization, the family provides the environment in which children acquire values, attitudes, communication skills, emotional security, and cultural identity. In recent decades, rapid urbanization, technological advancement, changing family structures, and evolving parenting practices have transformed family dynamics, influencing children's developmental outcomes in both positive and negative ways. This narrative review synthesizes contemporary literature on the relationship between family environment and children's holistic development from a sociological perspective. It examines how parenting styles, parent-child relationships, socioeconomic conditions, educational attainment of parents, family cohesion, and home learning environments contribute to children's overall growth. The review also discusses emerging challenges, including increased screen exposure, work-family imbalance, and declining interpersonal interactions, and highlights the complementary role of schools in supporting families. The article concludes that a nurturing, supportive, and value-oriented family environment remains indispensable for fostering holistic child development and recommends collaborative efforts among families, schools, communities, and policymakers to promote children's well-being in the twenty-first century.
Keywords: Family environment, holistic development, child development, parenting, socialization, sociology, holistic education
How to Cite?: Darshanaben Deepakbhai Parmar, "The Influence of Family Environment on Children's Holistic Development: A Sociological Review", Volume 15 Issue 7, July 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 681-687, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26708111507, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26708111507