In a study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (JCPP), scientists concluded that high temperatures in early childhood may hinder the acquisition of essential skills.
The research team analyzed data on the development of 19,607 children aged 3-4 years from countries such as Georgia, Gambia, Madagascar, Malawi, Sierra Leone, and Palestine, comparing it with precise climate data from 2017 to 2020.
It was found that children living in conditions where temperatures regularly exceed 32 °C significantly less often meet standards in literacy and mathematical skills. The most pronounced effects were observed in children from disadvantaged families, urban areas, and homes without access to clean water, which exacerbates the impact of heat.
The authors of the study emphasize that exposure to heat can negatively affect cognitive development through various mechanisms: dehydration, chronic stress, neuroinflammatory processes, sleep problems, and reduced physical activity levels. They call for immediate actions, including adapting urban infrastructure and providing social support to protect children's development in the context of global warming.
