How Does Mother’s Age Correspond To Healthy Early Childhood Development And Well-Being?

Higher levels of parental education and income correlate with healthier patterns of early childhood brain development. Levels of education and income, in turn, are strongly related to the age at which adults become parents. Some highlights of the brief:

• In Shelby County, the median age of mothers is 23 years at the time their first child is born.
• These families typically survive on low-incomes (between $15,000 and $24,999 a year).
• Age at first birth strongly correlates with parents' education level and - consequently - with their earning power.
• In our community, early parenthood leaves many families struggling to secure access to the basic resources and protections that provide a strong foundation for children's early brain development.