Family income causing lack of: food, clothing, hospital visits and quality education

It amazes me to think that although poverty has diminished over the last 30 years we still have child poverty.  A fair go for all children is an interesting report looking at the impacts that child poverty has on children, the statistics in New Zealand, and targets they have to minimalize children who are in poverty. It states in the report that the latest up to date statistics (2006-2007) were that 230,000 children in New Zealand were living in poverty (Fletcher & Dwyer, 2008). That was in 2006 and 2007, from then till now prices have gone up on food, clothing, rent and education however, wages have not and benefits are at a minimum. Unfortunately, it is the children who pay for this, they have a lack of clothes, no nutritional food, have irregular doctor appointments and maybe miss out on quality education. These are the basic needs a young child needs to grow and develop. Think about this in relation to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs (from let's start thinking, 2012) 

Children need their physiological or basic needs to be met before they can ascend through to self-actualisation. Basic needs would be such things as clean air, food, water, clothing and sleep.  The World Poverty and Human Rights website has a article called Development to Fulfill Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs written by Charity Magnusen. It states in the article that in order to ease poverty under Maslow’s hierarchy of needs physiological essentials must be met first, a child should have food, shelter, clothing, water and oxygen (Magnusen, 2010).

So, if young children that are in poverty are missing out on the necessities they need to grow and develop, how do you think this is going to affect their education? The Brainwave Trust talks about the first three years of a child’s life. It discusses the evidence that informs us about the experiences and needs that a young child requires for optimal brain development (Fancourt, 2004). Do you think that by allowing children to live in an atmosphere where they lack the main necessities to grow and develop, is going to help with their brain development and as a result, their education? It is interesting to see in the National Government policy under Health: Maternity and Child Health (2011), they state that at primary schools they are providing fruit for children in schools. I suppose this is one way they can help children who do not have the food necessities to grow and develop. What about young children who are in early childhood? The Brainwave trust shows that children need the basic needs and necessities for the first three years of their life! A question to leave this blog with… Should the government increase the minimum wage and benefits for the sake of our children… and even our countries future?

While browsing through the internet today (23 April) I came across this national headline on stuff.co.nz. Social scientist, Professor Darrin Hodgetts from Waikato University has shared his views on poverty in New Zealand. I have found this article very interesting and he has definitely pointed out some concerns for New Zealand's future. Click on Poverty our biggest growth industry - academic to check it out.

References

Fancourt, R. (2004). The first three years lasts forever. Retrieved from http://www.brainwave.org.nz/about/the-first-three-years-last-forever/.

Fletcher, M & Dwyer, M. (2008). A fair go for all children: Actions to address child poverty in New Zealand. Retrieved from http://www.occ.org.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/4932/OCC_ChildPoverty_070 808.pdf.

Health: Maternity and Child Health. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.national.org.nz/PDF_General/Health- Maternity_and_Child_Health_policy.pdf.

Magnusen, C. (2010). Development to Fulfill Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.  Retrieved from http://wphr.org/blog/2010/03/21/development-to-fulfill-maslow%E2%80%99s-hierarchy-of-needs/

Let’s start thinking. (2012). Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Retrieved from http://www.letsstartthinking.org/quickreference/maslow-need- hierarchy.asp