Rising temperatures could have a chilling impact on young children

"Young children really struggle in the heat. Their bodies are too small to cool down by sweating, like adults. And they're wholly reliant on grown-ups to find any kind of relief, be it air conditioning or shade or a cool drink. Now, new research points to a potentially lifelong setback for little ones exposed to extreme heat, which is becoming more common due to climate change."

"In a study of nearly 20,000 kids, young children who experienced hotter temperatures than usual were less likely to meet basic developmental milestones than those living in nearby, but slightly cooler areas, researchers report in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. Children in lower-income households and urban areas were especially vulnerable. As temperatures rise around the globe, researchers are scrambling to study the impacts on human health."

"In the first few years of life, we develop key physical, cognitive and social skills that can shape the rest of our lives. Meeting these basic developmental milestones at the appropriate time including being able to grasp objects with two fingers, recognizing letters or words and playing independently can influence later life outcomes, from mental health to economic success. Delays in developing these skills set kids down a developmental path that can affect not just individual well-being, but society as a whole, says Cuartas."

Young children cannot cool themselves effectively through sweating and depend on adults for relief such as air conditioning, shade, or cool drinks. Data from nearly 20,000 three- and four-year-olds show that exposure to hotter-than-usual temperatures reduces the likelihood of meeting basic developmental milestones compared with nearby children in slightly cooler areas. Lower-income households and urban settings amplify vulnerability. Early-childhood heat exposure acts as a stressor with potential long-term effects on brain development and skills, contributing to risks across health, mental well-being, and economic outcomes for individuals and society.

Read at www.npr.org