The variables that contribute to the cognitive development of the child Socioeconomic status can be defined as "the social position of an individual or a group combined with education, income and employment" (Hedges et al., 1994). Socioeconomic status has a very strong relationship with a child's cognitive abilities. Examinations of socioeconomic status over many years show many inequalities between classes in access to resources and privileges, especially when it comes to children's cognitive development. Students of lower socioeconomic status often face additional challenges compared to their higher socioeconomic peers, including fewer learning resources, difficult learning conditions, and low motivation that negatively impact their academic performance. (Ready, 2010) Disadvantaged children tend to start school with lower cognitive abilities than more advantaged children. It has been said that depending on his or her socioeconomic status a child can have a significant advantage or disadvantage right out of the starting gate. (Ready, 2010) Research reports that differences in young children's achievement in literacy and mathematics can be found at any age. (Hedges et al., 1994) Although other variables such as prenatal care, parenting skills, and biological factors such as genetics and disease are important to address when it comes to cognitive development, the socioeconomic factor is far more visible in the scores children's cognition than any other factor. It will be argued that one variable that can influence a child's cognitive development is his or her socioeconomic status. There is a strong correlation between socioeconomic status and a child's cognitive development. Research presented in Socioeconomic Disadvantage, School Attendance, and Early Cognitive D...... middle of paper...... care, genetics, and parenting skills, socioeconomics prevails and includes these other variables. Genetics, prenatal care, and parenting skills can be overcome with some stinging effort, but socioeconomics are harder to overcome but not impossible. The effect of lower socioeconomic status on outcomes is difficult to ignore. The socioeconomic effect on development is so evident that it cannot be overlooked as an important variable. Inequalities among children can easily be found even at a very young age. It is beyond a reasonable doubt that low-income children enter school academically behind advantaged peers, and that the cognitive difference increases the further a child goes through school. (Artiles, 2003) Based on the research found, the argument was supported since it was seen that cognitive development strongly depends on the socioeconomic status of the child in question.