Getting to Know My International Contacts—Part 1: Poverty

Lisa Zhang, from China, working in local pre-school for children aged 3 to 6 years old. She shared her professional experience and insights on poverty.

Poverty can mean many things. It can mean multiple people and families living in small houses so children do not get quality sleep at night. Lack on income can also mean unhealthy food during the day so children are also prone to getting sick.  Often bad, unhealthy food is cheaper then healthy food. This all affects brain function, growth, focus in class, health etc. This often is linked with poverty as families are over stressed from lack of money, tired from maybe working multiple jobs, been brought up around lack of attention from parents in their childhood etc. 

Due to these surrounds, etc. children can display aggression, behaviour problems, withdrawal, lack of concentration, learning difficulties, etc. Even more then other children, these children need teachers and schools to build strong relationships with them and provide a safe environment as often this can be the only place they feel that way.” (Lisa Zhang, personal conversation, Jan. 22, 2015).

From the communication, I learn that we should pay more attention to the emotions of children in development and try to build up positive relationships with children and their families so that we can. search some related information for families and support them in a timely way.