Of the close to 15,000 children born in Shelby County each year, more than half (56%) are born to families living in poverty. This means that a family of four has an annual income below $22,350.
Over the past year, we have discussed a range of issues facing parents of young children in Memphis. What should new parents focus on in the New Year?
Genes provide the blueprint for early brain development, but environmental factors determine a brain’s strengths and weaknesses.
In a recent article in The New York Times, Nicholas Kristof reported on a landmark policy statement just issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the leading association of American pediatricians. Based on several decades of scientific research, the Academy has identified “toxic stress” as the most widespread peril facing young children. What does this mean? Exposure to high levels of toxic stress early in childhood has been shown to result in a range of poor physical, social, emotional and cognitive outcomes.
