Dealing with stress of poverty makes it hard for many mothers to establish critical bonds with their babies—bonds that lay the foundations for learning, emotional regulation, and relationships. This vast gap in development between poor kids and wealthier peers is a major reason why inequality continues to persist. If we give mothers the opportunity to establish those critical bonds with their kids by teaching and playing with them, research shows those kids will have better social skills and earn 25 percent more on average than children who don’t receive love and attention from their mothers.