Stress and Violence Negatively Affect Children’s Brains

Did you know that the brain of a child who is raised in an environment with violence, fear, loud noises, and stress actually develops differently than a child who is raised in a safe bubble? I just read an interesting Newsweek article about how poverty (because all of the above typically constitutes low-income life styles) affects brain development. A USC study found that these children living in violent neighborhoods have weaker real-time neural connections and interaction in parts of the brain that deals with awareness, judgment, and ethical and emotional processing. Their brain activity is less organized and less developed than other children. 

As an educator, I knew that children who worried about whether or not they would have enough food to eat, concerned about unemployed parents, or feared for their lives performed poorly in classes, but I didn’t know that this environment changed the physiology of their brains.  I thought the damage done was psychological. That said, it seems to me that this might affect any socio-economic group that deals with sexual, child, spousal abuse, oppression, or even loud noises.

Kids, and everyone, really need a safe haven where they can unwind and be at peace.  The experts are looking to the schools – once again – to solve these problems but I don’t believe schools have the resources or the time to make a difference.  We need to expand programs like Big Brother/Big Sister that bring in loving mentors to give kids (of any socio-economic group) a break from their stressful homes.  And, ultimately, we need to address violence, poverty, and stress.