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.
Poverty Hits Home
"The word poverty provokes strong emotions and many questions"
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Adverse Childhood Experiences Model
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
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
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.
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