Effects of poverty on children's development and outcomes

¶ … poverty on children. There is one reference used for this paper.

There are a number of factors which can influence children in the world today. It is important to look at the role poverty plays in the lives of many children.

Effects of Poverty

According to an article by Brooks-Gunn, poverty has a number of ill effects of children. These children have a greater incidence of lead poisoning due to insufficient housing, are more likely to have low birth weights which may contribute to higher infant mortality, and decreased cognitive levels, leading these children to drop out of school thus continuing the cycle of living in poverty.

There are pathways which can improve a child's chance for a better life including "health and nutrition, home environment, parental interactions with children, parental mental health and neighborhood conditions (Brooks-Gunn)." It has been shown if these pathways are implemented at an early age, the child has a greater chance of completing high school, and rising above the poverty line.

Making Improvements

The influence of poverty on children and the age groups most affected have been determined. However, all of the studies are in vain unless efforts are made to improve the poverty level of children throughout the United States. It is important to get the parents involved as early as possible, since it has been proven the younger the child is and the longer he or she lives in poverty, the higher the incidence of not finishing school and continuing life in poverty.