This seminar will examine how poverty sometimes affects the relationship between a
parent and their very young child. Living with economic hardship correlates with
multiple adverse situations and experiences which can make it hard for a parent to
hold a baby in mind. In addition, there is also the simple fact that a lack of resources
means that parents may not be able to provide for their children as they would wish.
This is definitely not to imply that being poor make somebody a ‘poor’ parent; it is
more a matter of unpicking the multiple stressors associated with living in a situation
of economic deprivation that may titrate down to the caregiving relationship. It needs
to be more widely recognised that parenting is, in many ways, situationally
dependent and so is open to being supported by decisions taken at a political as
much as a personal level. There will be an overview of some of the research that has
covered how poverty may impact the future development of infants across multiple
domains. The overall perspective is clinical, as the origin of this presentation was
how an awareness of the more distal risks that might impact a vulnerable family
broadens both the therapeutic mind and repertoire. It is hoped that there will be
plenty of time for discussion, and all participants will receive a copy of the
presentation..