After the pandemic, the gap between rich and poor has widened dramatically worldwide, and Norway and the United States are no exception. In the U.S.
, about one in five kids are growing up in families that struggle to afford even basic needs. In Norway, that number is around eleven percent. How does this impact children and their lifelong education? In this episode, we talk with professors and psychologists Eric Dearing from Boston College and Henrik Daae Zachrisson from the University of Oslo about the challenges of growing up in a low-income family and the critical importance of high-quality preschool education.
The gift that lasts a lifetime When looking at different families living in poverty, the ways they experience disadvantage can vary greatly. One family might struggle with housing, while another might face food insecurity. And it also varies for individual families over time.
They may find ways to make ends meet one month and then be in crisis the next." Eric Dearing, Professor, Boston College Dearing visited the University of Oslo in September 2024 to accept his honorary doctoral degree. In general, however, children in low-income families face higher rates of homelessness, food insecurity, and have fewer resources at home that are enriching for children.
"We might find fewer books, a lower likelihood of having a tablet or some other access to the internet, and they're at greater risk of being exposed to environmental toxins. There are also tremendous differences de.