Abstract:
For decades, scholars have emphasized that the early childhood stage is the most critical time to meet children's developmental needs. Various social problems such as poverty, single parenting, child abuse, teenage motherhood, and domestic violence contribute to the development of children. The children of today are the future of tomorrow, but at such young ages; they do not have control over their welfare. As primary caretakers, parents are responsible for catering to children's developmental needs. However, at times society has to intervene when families fall subject to social problems. This research paper examines the effect social problems have on the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive needs of children and their development, current early childhood intervention programs and the positive results these programs have had on child development, and what can be done to ensure that children's developmental needs continue to be met.
