Children from economically disadvantaged families often face developmental delays because of limited access to high-quality early learning environments. Chronic stress caused by hardships related to financial situations may have a detrimental effect on parent-child interactions and attachment security (Hayes et al., 2017). Parents under financial strain may suffer from mental health troubles, which further impedes them from providing consistent parenting or nurturing care.
Educators in early learning contexts might witness factors affecting participation rates, attendance, or engagement, including transport issues or an inability to access digital technologies. The economic pressure also acts as a barrier to children's participation in extracurricular activities or receiving additional aid resources such as books or outings (Warren & Haisken-DeNew, 2013). Occurring thus, the economic disadvantages may strangle educational inequalities for a long term. Early childhood services must therefore respond with equity-driven approaches, considering the systemic barriers leading to intergenerational poverty.