Children in a low socioeconomic group are much more likely than non-poor children to suffer from developmental delay and damage, to drop out of high school, and to give birth during their teenage years. In the United States there are about 15 million children living in poverty, which accounts for 21% of all children. Poverty can simply be defined as the state of having little or not money, goods, or means of support.

Adverse Childhood Experiences Model 

Felitti, V., R. Anda, D. Norenberg, D. Williamson, A. Spitz, and V. Edwards, eds. "Adverse Childhood Experiences Model." Chart. Relationship of Childhood Abuse and Household Dysfunction to Many Leading Cause of Death in Adults: The Adverse Childhood Experiences. 1998. 245-58. Print.

 This chart shows the awful cycle that occurs when children are born into a low income family. The cycle starts off with the child living in poverty and having to deal with adverse living situations. Those situations will typically trigger social, emotional, and cognitive problems, which will lead to getting behind in their education. For example, having to take special reading classes to attempt to catch up to the rest of their classmates. Then, because of that, risk behaviors come into play. Behaviors such as drinking, smoking, and adopting other unhealthy habits. Due to those unhealthy habits, things such as disease, disabilities, and social problems begin to generate. All of that leading to an early death. 

The Emotional Keyboard

Jensen, Eric. "The Emotional Keyboard." Chart. Teaching with Poverty in Mind: What Being Poor Does to Kids' Brains and What Schools Can Do About It. Alexandria, VA: ASCD Publications, 2009. 18. Print.

Most of the children who are living in a low income household, simply aren't equipped with a range of emotions for how to respond in certain situations. The majority of students who are acting out in classrooms, for example, a student with anger problems. That student only knows how to act angry in that circumstance, due to the fact that at their home, they aren't taught how to express any other emotions. This emotional keyboard diagram shows the different emotions that are hardwired in every humans DNA. Then it goes to show the emotions that are taught at a young age in a stable, well-off living environment household.

Talking to Infants: The Cumulative Effects of Mother's Speech on Vocabulary of 2-year-Olds

Haight, W., M. Seltzer, and R. Lyons. "Talking to Infants: The Cumulative Effects of Mother's Speech on Vocabulary of 2-year-Olds." Chart. Early Vocabulary Growth: Relation to Language Input and Gender. Ed. J. Huttenlocher. 1991. 236-48. Print.

Language is a huge impact on a child's life. The mother talking and speaking to her children is very important. Mothers living in well-off households, typically speak to their children more, versus mothers in low income families.

What can be done? 

It’s a no brainer saying that something needs to be done to change this. Education is the first thing that can move one out of poverty. Teachers and schools have a huge role in this.

At one elementary school in Richland, Washington, the community reached out to them as a school in need. A local churched gathered some volunteers and headed over to the school. The church held fundraisers to support the elementary school, and every morning, the church puts together breakfast for the students in need.

Helping schools in need is a huge way to show your support for these children who are less fortunate.