Reasons and Solutions for Children Reared in Poor Homes

Chris Demoura wrote an article entitled, Children Who Are Raised in Poor Homes, which touched on the basic reality of children being reared in poor homes. As a society, many people know this is happening around them, but in the busyness of their own lives, allow the thoughts to be confined to Toys for Tots at Christmas, and tax deductible donations to charitable organizations. However, until and unless the masses begin to recognize, embrace and take action, the number of children being reared in poor homes is not going to decrease.

So how does it happen that there is such large number of children in our own United States, by far the most free and wealthy nation on the planet, who are being reared in homes where basic necessities are in such short supply? It is not easy to accept, but below are listed some of the top reasons for the poverty in which many children are forced to live.

For many children, they are simply a product of their environment. It is not uncommon for poverty to have been the norm for generations of families. The so-called "welfare mentality" is learned when parents and grandparents demonstrate this way of life before the children. These children become accustomed to the "government check" received every month, to the food stamps pulled out to pay for groceries, and to the Medicaid form presented at doctor visits. Children who grow up seeing this as a way of life come to accept it as a normal life, unless they are intentionally trained to think a different way. The reasons for the poverty in the family are varied, from mill closings to injury, from absent parents to simple lack of care. Regardless of the reason behind it, only the intentional training of worth, the importance of education, the learning of marketable skills, the need to be free of dependence upon the government, and the importance of caring for one's family will change the future course of generational poverty. It only takes a quick look around to see many examples of outstanding citizens who have risen above their circumstances to achieve success in their own right.

Another hindrance to overcoming poverty is the living conditions of the child. Often poor families are forced to live in run-down projects, or rental homes owned by slum lords, in order to afford the other necessities of life. These areas often come with their own reputations, a strike against a child from the get-go. These poor quality housing situations are not at all conducive to learning during a child's school years. Poorly lit, poorly maintained housing is an oppressive atmosphere in which to learn. Having to be concerned with keeping warm in the winter and cool in the sweltering summers diverts focus from learning to basic survival.

Adults have a share in the responsibility as well. Adults must decide to change the future for their children. Choosing to wait until marriage to have children is one place to start. Single parent homes require so very much effort from the providing parent that it infringes on the time for the parent and children to interact with each other. Children need guidance and boundaries, both of which are often lacking due to the amount of time a child must be alone or with a care provider, or absent from his parent while the parent is working. Adults must also learn to instill a sense of worth and respect in their children. A child who learns from an early age the value of an honest day's work for an honest day's wage is much more able to function in the working world in which he will eventually live. Additionally, parents must choose to remain an active part of their children's lives, regardless of the state of their marriage to the other parent. Unfortunately, divorce is common, but it should not be considered a reason to abandon one's children. Even after divorce, in fact especially after divorce, it is critical that both parents remain an active part of their children's lives in order for those children to feel their personal worth and to learn the extreme importance of being committed to one's responsibilities.

It often feels helpless for people who are above the poverty line to have any significant effect on the poverty situations around them. Many are living paycheck to paycheck themselves. The easiest and most obvious way to help is to contribute money to reputable charitable organizations who have established methods of assisting those in need. However, "throwing money" at a situation is not enough. It is time to put action to the concerns we claim. Many of these children simply need a caring adult to become involved in their lives. They need someone who will help them see a different path, and learn confidence and self-worth. Anyone who has a few hours a week to spend in front of the television or at the movie theater has time to volunteer with one of the many reputable organizations whose purpose it is to provide positive role models for children being reared in poverty. Many cities have Salvation Army and Big Brother, Big Sister organizations, in addition to hundreds of private and faith-based organizations, who are in constant need of caring adults.

Growing up in a poor home need not be a sentence to a life of poverty. Many worthwhile values can be learned from living a simple life. The value of money, the art of frugality, the importance of education, the importance of learning a skill or trade and the importance of family are of much more value to a person who has seen a life without these things. And there is certainly no price one can place on a childhood filled with loving adults and pleasant memories. That cannot be purchased with currency.