Study Warns: Heat Waves Diminish Reading and Math Skills in Young Children

A recent scientific study indicates that the impacts of rising temperatures from climate change extend deeply into the cognitive development of young children, with frequent exposure to extreme heat associated with a marked decline in early foundational skills.

Published in the "Journal of Child Psychology and Medicine 2025," the research highlights that children aged 3 to 4 years who are frequently exposed to extreme heat show declines in reading, writing, and basic math skills. These findings represent a significant advancement in understanding climate impacts, following earlier evidence of cognitive performance impairment in adults and adolescents due to heat. Studies have shown that temperatures exceeding 32 degrees Celsius can reduce cognitive abilities in adults by approximately 10%, and heat waves can negatively affect student test scores.

This study is among the first to analyze the effects of heat on foundational skills during the sensitive early childhood period, where essential cognitive structures develop that shape future educational trajectories.

The research team utilized unique data from the Early Childhood Development Index (ECDI), which includes 19,607 children from Georgia, Gambia, Madagascar, Malawi, Sierra Leone, and Palestine, collected from 2017 to 2020. The researchers correlated this data with precise temperature measurements from the ERA5 land system and employed robust statistical models accounting for factors such as poverty levels, maternal education, and seasonal and regional variations.

Results indicated that children exposed to average maximum temperatures above 32 °C are less likely to be on track developmentally, particularly in reading and math. The impact was especially pronounced among the most vulnerable groups, including children from low-income families, those living in overcrowded urban areas, and those lacking access to clean water and adequate sanitation facilities.

The researchers suggest that extreme heat may impair brain development through several mechanisms, including dehydration affecting brain function, repeated activation of the stress response system, inflammation or damage to nerve cells due to difficulties in dissipating heat, and disruptions in sleep, reduced physical activity, and limited opportunities for play and social interaction, all of which are crucial for early cognitive development.

While the authors emphasize the need for further comprehensive and precise studies, they highlight the clarity of the current findings, which demonstrate the detrimental effects of extreme heat on children's cognitive development. The research team stated, "These results underscore the urgent need to develop policies and interventions to protect children's development in an increasingly warm world."

These warnings are particularly significant as over one-third of children worldwide are exposed to increasing heat waves, raising alarms for professionals in the education and health sectors as well as policymakers. The research suggests that the future of learning, especially in hot countries or those with limited infrastructure, could be directly threatened unless decisive measures are taken to mitigate the impacts of rising temperatures on children.