About one-tenth of children under the age of 12 live with a parent who has a disability that restricts daily activities in some way. Economic Security Unemployment rates are down, but child poverty is up. Although the rate of unemployment dropped, the number of poor children rose to 1.47 million in 1995 from 1.36 million in 1994, bringing the proportion of poor children under age 18 to 21 per cent from 19.5 per cent. Families' average after-tax incomes continued to fall. During the same period, the estimated costs of raising children rose.
Poverty negatively affects family functioning and children's school results.
Physical Safety Crime rates have dropped in Canada for five consecutive years, and the majority of children live in neighbourhoods that their parents consider to be safe. However, one in four children lives in an area that is unsafe after dark according to their pa rents. Air pollution and rates of asthma have increased. Also, the number of hospital admis sions due to respiratory illness among children has risen by 40 per cent. The rate of injury-related deaths has decreased among children, likely reflecting improved regulation of hazardous activities and better safety standards.