A Fair Chance?

We all know poverty is hard enough on adults, but what about the kids?

A new study published in the journal Pediatrics April 12 indicates that the causes and conditions of poverty can slow a child’s development. Older research did not take factors like limited access to food and inconsistent home heating into account when studying the effects of poverty on children.

The study involved more than 7,000 children aged 4 months to 3 years who were brought to urban primary-care clinics or hospital emergency departments for care. Overall, these children were less likely to have normal growth, health and development -- or "wellness" -- if their scores were higher on an index that evaluated hardships. The discrepancy remained even after the researchers took into account factors that might throw off their findings.

It seems to me children in poverty do not get an equal shot at life. They don’t just end up behind; they start out behind. This data only underscores the fact that low-income children are fighting an upward battle when compared to their more affluent peers.
Still, we must tell ourselves the remedies are accessible. We can make sure that every kid in our communities has access to warm, stable housing, education, nutritious food and a safe environment. That’s where programs like Head Start come in, to level the playing field. No child should be left behind in this great land of opportunity.