Giving a child the best start in life (Image: Keiji Iwai/Getty) Babies from poorer babies are lighter, and their mums progressively more prone to post-natal depression, impairing bonding and emotional security. Poorer mothers are also progressively less likely to read to their children every day at age three, a vital preparation for entry to school. Finally, the richer a family, the stricter they are about bedtimes. The richest children are twice as ready for school than the poorest, giving them a huge advantage. Likewise, they have vastly expanded vocabularies and fewer conduct problems. Inevitably, poorly-prepared children perform worse at school,…
Health
Act early in life to close health gaps across society
By Andy Coghlan
11 February 2010
