The Environment of Childhood Poverty (Reading)

Question 1

What are the main points of the article “The environment of childhood poverty.” ? (4)

Answer 1

1. Poverty is harmful to the physical, socioemotional, and cognitive well-being of children and their families
2. This harm is due to cumulative risk exposure which is impacted by how long a child experiences poverty
3. Low-income children are disproportionately exposed to more adverse social and physical environmental conditions.
4. They suffer greater family turmoil, live in chaotic households, live in dangerous and polluted environments, have fewer cognitive enrichment opportunities, fewer social support and attend inadequate child care facilities/ schools

Question 2

Psychosocial Environment - Low income Parents (6)

Answer 2

1. Spend less time with their children
2. Offer less emotional support
3. 38% read to their children & 22% take their children to a library once a month
4. Engage in unresponsive and harsher parenting beginning as early as infancy
5. Are twice as likely to rely on corporal punishment
6. Are less involved in school activities such as attending their children’s school function

Question 3

Psychosocial Environment - Low-income Children (4)

Answer 3

1. Experience less cognitive stimulation and enrichment
2. Speak less often
3. Are more likely to have divorced parents and/or spend time in foster or other institutional care
4. Are less likely to have well-qualified teachers

Question 4

Physical Environment - Toxic Waste & Pollution

Answer 4

Low income families live closer to toxic waste and experience pollution
- Toxic waste → poor sanitation, pesticide exposure, air pollution etc
- Pollution → parental smoking, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide & radon

Question 5

Physical Environment - Housing Environment & Children (4)

Answer 5

Low income children :
1. Are likely to live in crowded rooms
2. Lack of access to open space/nature/play areas
3. Are risk of injuries due to structural issues in the home
4. Have less age appropriate toys and books

Question 6

Physical Environment - Low Income Housing Conditions (3)

Answer 6

Low income housing :
1. Lack of amenities like a washer and dryer
2. Have more structural defects
3. Situated in areas prone to natural disasters
4. Situated in neighborhoods with higher crime rates

Question 7

Physical Environment - Low Income Schools (3)

Answer 7

Poor schools :
1. Poor schools have higher noise pollution
2. Poor schools have access to school funds
3. Poor schools are more likely to have leaky roofs, inadequate plumbing and heating, problems with lighting etc

Question 8

Environmental Risk and Developmental Outcomes

Answer 8

• Physical health and cognitive deficits due to toxin exposure and air pollution
• Socio-emotional distress due to residential crowding and noise pollution
• Childhood injuries due to housing quality & unsafe neighborhoods
• Lack of cognitive enrichment due to lack of parent-to-child speech and exposure to print media
• Negative socioemotional, cognitive and health outcomes due to family turmoil, instability and harsh parenting