Key Determinant Of Healthy Childhood Development

“The socioeconomic status in which a child is born can have profound lifelong effects” (UNICEF, 2016, p. 9). Development beginning in early life establishes the foundation for future health and development, which is why it is necessary that children be given the best possible start. Familial income is a key determinant of healthy childhood development (Gupta, Wit, & McKeown, 2007). Families with low incomes are likely to lack the resources necessary for children’s health, such as: nutritious food; adequate shelter and access to education (Gupta, Wit, & McKeown, 2007). Nearly 1.2 million Canadian children live in a low-income household and experience the effects of poverty (Statistics Canada, 2017). Inadequate nutrition can lead to stunted growth,