A few different organizations collaborated to research the effect of family poverty on children. The study took an in depth look at 70 low income families from both poor neighborhoods and more affluent ones.
The study took place in England, but I believe it can tell us the general effects of poverty on children everywhere.
Unsurprisingly, the study showed many problems and troubles for families living in poverty, all of which negatively impact children. The study found that children generally felt ashamed and stressed over their poverty. Even young children would hide their own personal needs to avoid stressing their parents further. Many children were bullied by other children in relation to their poverty. Poor parents reported a high level of behavior problems, and poverty had a severely negative effect on the children’s emotional well-being.
The study has shown me some of the ways poverty disrupts children’s development and deprives them of equal opportunity. That results in a poverty trap, in that many of those poor children will end up in poverty as adults due to their poor childhood.
You can discuss this post and the effects of poverty on children in this thread in the World Hunger and Poverty Forums. It’s completely free, and all viewpoints are welcome.