What is Cultural Relevance

The adverse effects of poverty on child development are well documented and can have far reaching outcomes. This review of literature looks at the effects of poverty on child development indirectly through parenting. Positive parenting techniques are particularly important in sensitive periods of development, and negative parenting, influenced and exacerbated by the stress of poverty can set children back cognitively and emotionally. A relatively recent area of research explores the effects of creative arts engagement on the developing brain and the academic and social outcomes of children. Many of the positive benefits of arts engagement bolster areas of development that parenting plays a role in shaping. The collection of data suggests that at-risk children have the most to gain form early intervention, long-term arts education.