How Family Income Affects Children's Growth

Family income, or socioeconomic status (SES), plays a big role in how children grow and reach important milestones. Studies show that kids from families with lower income often have more trouble developing key skills. For example, around 20% of children from low-income families show developmental delays by the time they are 3 years old. In comparison, only about 10% of kids from higher-income families have similar delays.

Important Ways SES Affects Growth:

1. Thinking Skills:

   • Kids from low-income families usually don’t have the same access to good early education, which can hurt their thinking skills.
   • On average, children from these families score 15 to 20 points lower on IQ tests than their peers from wealthier families.

2. Talking Skills:

   • It’s really important for kids to hear a lot of words when they are young.
   • Kids from low-income backgrounds hear about 30 million fewer words by the time they are 3 years old compared to kids from richer families.

3. Social and Emotional Growth:

   • Children from low-income families often face more stress, which can make it harder for them to manage their emotions.
   • Approximately 25% of these kids struggle with social interactions.

These differences show how important family income is in a child's development. It highlights the need for specific programs and support to help kids from low-income families succeed.