This document discusses the effects of poverty on child development. It notes that almost 14 million US children live below the poverty level, with 19% considered poor. Growing up in poverty can negatively impact children's learning abilities, development, self-esteem, and mental health, and increase risks of abuse, bullying and antisocial behavior. While education is seen as key to rising above poverty, those in poverty often feel it is unattainable. Support systems are important to help disadvantaged children reach their full potential despite obstacles.

1. Poverty & Child Development
By: Erinn Daniels
Dr. Melba Fletcher
Nova Southeastern University

2. Poor Children
• Across the nation, many children sit in
classrooms with empty stomachs,
clouded minds of despair and the
inability to cope with the perils of
being poor or “socio-economically
challenged

3. Poor Children
• According to Columbia University’s
National Center for Children in Poverty
(2009), almost 14 million children
reside in households below the federal
poverty level of $22,050 for a family
size that includes four people. More
specifically, 19% of children in the
United States are considered poor.

4. Affects of Poverty on
Development
• Learning Disabilities
• Developmentally Delayed
• Low-Self Esteem
• Mental Health Issues
• Encounter Substance & Physical Abuse
• Anti-social Behavior including bullying
others, being cruel, destroying the property
of others, cheating or telling lies

5. My Personal Life Experiences
• I grew up in middle class family
• Nice home & vehicles
• Participated in extracurricular activities
• Fine clothes
• Field trips
• No physical or emotional abuse
• Honor student & attended college

6. My Siblings’ Life Experiences
• Single mother household
• Almost 50 residences throughout their
childhood, including boarding houses
• Repossessed vehicles
• Lacked warm clothes in winter
• Robbed & stole
• Used to be gifted in school
• Never attended college

7. Dr. Ruby Payne on Poverty
According to Dr. Ruby Payne (2010), a former teacher
and principal and currently an expert on the effects
of poverty on children, poverty impacts the child’s
ability to learn, work habits, and the ability to make
effective decisions.
People that live in poverty are always in survival mode
and often feel that obtaining an education is too
far-fetched of a solution for their current living
conditions.

8. Dr. Ruby Payne on Poverty
Dr. Payne’s first book, A Framework for Understanding
Poverty, is used by many educators to help
understand children who live in poverty and how
they cope with their situations.
Her book provides real intense look at the hidden rules
that govern social class and impedes on teacher’s
ability to reach children.

9. One Can Rise Above Poverty
While I believe that poverty is not the sole predictor of
one’s ability to be successful in the future, children
from deprived backgrounds already have negative
cards stacked against them.
Students need good support system and strong frame
of mind to rise above the obstacles and reach fullest
potential.

10. References
Institute of Alcohol Studies. (2007). Poverty and Deprivation: Key Causes of Mental Health Problems in
Children. Retrieved on May 24, 2010 from
http://www.ias.org.uk/resources/publications/alcoholalert/alert200603/al200603_p21.html
National Center for Children in Poverty. (2009). Child Poverty. Retrieved on May 24, 2010 from
http://www.nccp.org/topics/childpoverty.html.
Payne, R. (n.d.). Understanding and Working with Students and Adults from Poverty. Retrieved on May 24,
2010 from http://homepages.wmich.edu/~ljohnson/Payne.pdf
Payne, R. (2010). About Ruby Payne. Retrieved on May 24, 2010 from
http://www.ahaprocess.com/About_Us/Ruby_Payne.html
Somerville, C. (2010). The Effects of Poverty on Child Development. Retrieved on May 24, 2010 from
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2012170/the_effects_
of_poverty_on_child_development_pg2.html?cat=25
University of Alberta (2006, February 9). Long-term Poverty Affects Mental Health of Children. ScienceDaily.
Retrieved on May 24, 2010 from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2006/02/060206171449.htm