The Great Recession will wipe out nearly all of the gains in children’s economic well-being made over the last 35 years, and a decline in pre-kindergarten enrollment could help drag down this generation in the coming years, a new report says.
Overall, the 2010 Child and Youth Well-Being Index laid out a bleak present and immediate future for today’s children because of the historic economic downtown. For example, the poverty rate among children will hit its highest rate in 20 years, nearly 22 percent, this year, and the obesity rate is expected to keep rising, the Foundation for Child Development stated in its annual report.
The index includes 28 well-being indicators in seven groups: economic wellbeing,
safe/risky behavior, social relationships, emotional/spiritual well-being, community engagement, educational attainment, and health.
“… By 2010, the recession will wipe out virtually all progress made for children in the Family Economic Well-being Domain since 1975,” New Report: Impact of Recession on Children to Reach New Lows in 2010, 6/8/10.
The report also noted a drop in pre-k attendance as a major worry, since it could affect children’s performance for years, lowering math and reading scores in third and fourth grade, and potentially leading to higher high school dropout rates
The broader spike in children living in poverty also will create problems in the future, according to Foundation for Child Development president Ruby Takanishi.
“Research shows that children who slip into poverty, even for a short time, suffer long-term setbacks even when their families regain their economic footing,” Takanishi said in a statement released yesterday. “This is especially true for children during their first decade of life. This means that, even if the recession subsides soon, the effects on these children will not. Unfortunately, we fear the worst is yet to come.”
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