Essay on Poverty and Child Development - 1589 Words

From the very second I was born, until this very day, I had understood life to be a certain way. Life had taken its course and my family, as well as myself, have suffered ups and downs. We’ve been through times which were good and which were the worst of the worst – all families do. What I didn’t know is that regardless of the good and the bad, that the life I lived was sheltered to the point where I couldn’t fathom the idea that all people had not lived a life similar to ours. Sure, I understand that some were more fortunate and some were less fortunate, but to which extent? Within my circle of influence, our friends and family, there was a certain level at which we enjoyed our lives in a comfortable sense. We’d occasionally see a†¦show more content†¦It is very true that although some families are born into poverty, other have fallen into this classification due to various circumstances they endured during the course of life’s twis ts and turns. According to a conservative remark by Thomas J. Surgrue as noted in â€Å"American Families† by Stephanie Coontz, â€Å"the wages of two underemployed workers barely pull families above the poverty line† (Surgrue, p. 245 Coontz). With this in mind, it makes us wonder if there is any hope to rely on for those who live in this area, whether it’s two underemployed parents or just a single mother or father. There is barely a difference between those who are suffering because they are unemployed and so it seems that’s it even worse for those who are working two dead end jobs and still not breaching the poverty line. Jonathan Kozol speaks of a local high school in the South Bronx when he says that â€Å"Morris High School is, after all, one of the most beleaguered, segregated, and decrepit secondary schools in United states†(Kozol). I understand the argument that they are uneducated and do not have a great ability to apply for numerous jobs , but what I don’t understand is if they even find a minimum wage job, they are better off that where they are currently. In addition, there are numerous programs which allowShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Poverty On Child Development1724 Words   |  7 PagesPoverty causes most stress within households and has an impact on the healthy development of a child. If a family struggles financially they may not have money for food to be put on the table and the child will be hungry, which has a knock of effect to a child’s learning. A child will struggle to focus and learn if they are hungry as food is needed in order for the brain to function well. A child’s physical development is likely to be affected as they will not grow and thrive at the appropriateRead MorePoverty and Child Development Essay2193 Words   |  9 PagesPoverty is defined in many ways. 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The selected articles all focused on the major effect of poverty on children, and were sorted into four sub-categories or themes based upon a specific focus areas of this complex and not yet fully understood issue. These themes included developmental, educationalRead MoreNeighborhood Poverty, Social Capital, and the Cognitive Development of African American Preschoolers1482 Words   |  6 PagesChildren in families with lower incomes at or below the poverty line have been connected with poor cognitive and social development in early childhood. The studies that I chose to use evaluate the cognitive and social development during early childhood using various surveys, evaluations, and observations completed by or with the children, parents, and teachers. Development of any kind is dependent on the interplay of nature and nurture, or genetics and environment. These studies draw from a child’sRead MoreEffects of Poverty on Children: Literature Review Essay1352 Words   |  6 Pagesfocused on summarizing some of the effects of poverty on children. The selected articles all focused on the major effect of poverty on children, and were sorted into four sub-categories or themes based upon a specific focus areas of this complex and not yet fully understood issue. These themes included developmental, educational outcomes, health, and parenting effects, and how they were impacted by children living in poverty. Impact on Development The developmental theme included reviews of fourRead MoreImpact Of Environment And Poverty On Children s Educational Development1321 Words   |  6 Pagesextent environment and poverty is a significant factor in children’s educational development and attainment. This will be done by evaluating the effects that family, environment and poverty have on the way a child develops. This essay aims to focus on the degree these themes influence educational development. Whilst focusing on the impact during different stages of a child’s primary education, I will look at how these themes influence the child and why they are important. Poverty is a major issue thatRead MoreEffects Of Poverty On Children1554 Words   |  7 PagesEffects of Poverty on Children Makayla Ray University of Alabama in Birmingham Abstract This literature review of twelve previously published research articles has focused on summarizing some of the effects of poverty on children. The selected articles all focused on the major effect of poverty on children, and were sorted into four sub-categories or themes based upon a specific focus areas of this complex and not yet fully understood issue. These themes included developmental, educational