Living in poverty can indeed affect children's brain development. Recent MRI brain - scan studies show that kids from poor and near - poor households have lower frontal and parietal lobe gray - matter volumes compared to those from wealthier families. Even though newborns have similar gray - matter volumes, growth in the first three years is lower in low - income children. Also, low family socioeconomic status and early - life stresses are linked to smaller hippocampus and amygdala volumes.

There are several reasons for this. Firstly, children in poverty often get less cognitive stimulation. They have fewer home learning resources, and their parents engage in fewer literary activities and communicate less complexly. Secondly, stressful and unsafe living conditions in poor households and neighborhoods, like overcrowding, noise, crime, and pollution, can harm development. Thirdly, harsh parenting and family instability are more common in low - income families, which also impact children.

However, some policies can counter these negative effects. Income support for families with children, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, can help kids achieve more in school. High - quality preschool programs for three - and four - year - olds are cost - effective and improve long - term outcomes. Nurse home visitation programs for low - income mothers can reduce abuse and neglect and improve children's development. Overall, while poverty clearly has an impact on children's brain development, there are ways to mitigate its effects.