Though it is believed to have existed much earlier, child labor first became prominent with the rise of the Industrial Revolution. It started when children as young as 10 were put to work in factories and mines. These children were made to work long hours for very little pay. Child labor soon appeared in other forms and eventually spread around the world, fueled mainly by poverty. Though, today, many countries have eliminated child labor, others, such as Latin America, have yet to do so. Most modern child laborers perform household chores for which they are not paid. Others work in agriculture, hunting, extraction of natural resources, fishing, and other informal activities. These informal activities may include working in brick and textile factories, food services, prostitution centers, and as street vendors, shoe shiners, and car washers. Being forced to work at such a young age has numerous physical and emotional effects on these children. Many may face the threat of a serious accident or a slow deterioration of their health caused by toxic fumes and other factors. Their mental, social, and emotional development is often deterred. In addition to all this, most child laborers fall behind in their regular education or never receive any at all. Without an education, most will continue to live in poverty and will never hold a successful job. The exploitation of these Latin American children as workers must stop. Steady jobs must be available for their parents so that they can support their children, not the other way around. Education is key to the future of kids freed from child labor. An organized educational system must be established, allowing every child to regularly attend school. Only when these things have been accomplished will the children of Latin America regain their right to a childhood and to a healthy, productive life.
