Food Insecurity
Why is this important?
On the home page we cover a general overview of food insecurity, who is affected, and the developmental effects of prolongued food insecurity on children and infants. On the details pages we dive deeper into the regions of United States most affected by food insecurity and the makeup of that general population. The fact that such a large portion of the food insecure population is children should be alarming when you consider the nature of child development.
Early Childhood Development
A common phrase heard in early childhood settings is that the first five years of a childs life is the most important for development. This is no exagguration. During the first five years of a childs life, their brain develops faster than any other period in their life. The foundations for health, behavior, relationships, and learning are built in this relatively short time periods. This makes an adequate and abundant supply of nutrition imperative for child development. Something food insecurity can interupt relatively easily.
What this means
This means that even short bouts of temporary food insecurity within those first five years of a childs life can lead to delayed and impared development that will follow them throughout the rest of their lives. These effects aren't something they are born with, it is something that happens to them. Something preventable and uneccessary. Our goals as people who have or know children of which we care about should be concerned with helping relieve this issue.