Recent Trends in the Well-Being of Children in the United States and Their Implications for Public Policy

This chapter appraises trends in children’s well-being in the United States since the 1960s. It begins by reviewing changes in the size and composition of the child population It then examines recent trends in measures of children’s well-being, including indicators of children’s economic well-being, physical health, academic achievement, social behavior and attitudes, and emotional well-being. Finally, it discusses some of the implications of these trends for government policies on children and families.