Shafaqna English- A new international study reveals that rising temperatures are slowing early childhood development.
Children exposed to unusually high heat were significantly less likely to meet key literacy and numeracy milestones compared to those in cooler environments, with the most vulnerable children being hit hardest.
Published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, the research analyzed data from over 19,000 children aged 3-4 across six countries. It found that children experiencing average maximum temperatures above 86°F (30°C) were 5-6.7% less likely to achieve basic learning benchmarks in reading and math.
The impact was strongest among children from economically disadvantaged households, those with limited access to clean water, and those living in dense urban areas. This suggests that heat stress compounds existing inequalities, affecting development long before formal schooling begins.
The findings underscore an urgent, hidden consequence of climate change. Lead researcher Jorge Cuartas emphasized the need for more research to understand the exact mechanisms and to develop policies that protect children’s development in a warming world.
Source: New York University