Growing-Up In Poverty

For a child, growing up in poverty takes a significant toll on them physically. Poverty affects their ability to maintain things such as average weight, proper sanitation, and an overall healthy physic. For example, a major physical down side of growing up in poverty is malnutrition that can eventually lead to an unhealthy weight for children. In the article, “Growing Up Poor and Childhood Weight Problem” from The Department of Economics at East Carolina University, poverty and its relation to health and weight problems is addressed saying, “In particular, low family income limits children’s access to fruits, vegetables, and whole grain products… Both overweight and underweight are likely to be physiologically linked to imbalanced intake of

For instance, when a child is raised in poverty and their emotional state is pressured in such a way that it damages their ability to cope with everyday things, it 's not uncommon that they turn to illegal substances and alcohol to help them with such things as depression and anxiety. So many children in poverty nowadays resort to the use of drugs and alcohol rather than facing the issue head-on without the presence of such substances, that it has become apparent to many rehab facilities and support groups such as an online group monitored by Ned Wicker. According to his passage, Poverty and Addiction, Do They Go Together? "Poverty may not have been their choice, but how they respond to the situation is rather telling… They can either press on or look for something to numb the pain" (Wicker). Another effect poverty has on the emotional aspect of a child 's identity is the mental stress put on them. This often at times causes them to react irrationally to day-to-day conflicts, and to create behavioral problems. It has been observed that children who grow up with sufficient financial funds do not frequently possess these kinds of difficulties. Eric Jensen, the author of the book, Teaching with Poverty in Mind, in regards to financially stable children says, "Children who grow up with such relationships learn healthy, appropriate, emotional responses to everyday situations. But children raised in poor households often fail to learn these responsibilities" (Chapter 2. How Poverty Affects Behavior and Academic Performance). Combining the abuse of substances and the stress caused by poverty, a chaotic home environment is formed for a child and their family. Mentally, families break down and generally create an atmosphere far too turbulent for successful growth and development for the children. The editorial from the "Urban Child Institutes," says that, "…the futures of the children are now