Children’s development between birth and age 5 is one of the most critical and exciting periods in a person’s lifespan. From the explosions in language and motor abilities, to the expansion of cognitive skills and higher level functioning, this timespan encompasses some of the earliest developmental necessities for further growth. Unfortunately, almost half of the nation’s children have experienced at least one type of childhood trauma during this sensitive period, impacting the biological and psychosocial development of the child (Center on the Developing Child, 2007). Adverse childhood experiences change the brain and biological chemistry of a child, with greater numbers of risk factors being indicative of a greater chance of developmental delay. This is particularly true when those adverse events occur before the age of 3 years (Center on the Developing Child, 2007). Understanding the relation between risks and the developmental patterns of children is critical for shaping policy and practice in order to provide early support through intervention and community services to foster healthy future growth.

This developmental period is greatly impacted by the complex environments and early experiences of a child. Developmental trajectories are changed and influenced as a result of the balance between protective and risk factors. Research has been conducted to explore the relation between specific risk factors and early development. The experiences of homelessness, maltreatment, and early health factors are associated with significant risk to the cognitive, linguistic, motor, and behavioral development of children from birth to 5 years of age. Studies exploring the cumulative risk as a result these experiences have also shown 2 effects on this early developmental period. What has not been evaluated is the impact of cumulative risk on young children already at high risk through the experience of homelessness. Researchers have not yet examined how the experience of multiple risk factors including maltreatment and early health risks, combined with homelessness, impact cognitive, linguistic, motor, and social-emotional skills in children birth to 5 years.

The goal of the current study was to better understand the independent and compounding nature of biological and psychosocial risk on the development of children from birth to 5 years experiencing homelessness. This work is important as it moves the literature and research in these fields forward and adds to an empirical foundation for advocacy work in the areas of early intervention and community supports for this population.

The following review introduces the reader to relevant areas of research. Unless explicitly noted, it can be assumed that the studies included were conducted in populations of children ranging in age from birth to 5 years. The following review does not provide a comprehensive analysis; rather, research presented is representative of overall trends in each area.