The aim of this paper is to examine the available data on children’s lives in South Africa in order to see whether we have the necessary tools to trace changes in child poverty and well-being over time, and to link these changes to broader social, political and economic trends. The analysis offered in this paper is important not only in terms of understanding the factors that currently influence the lives of almost half of South Africa’s population1, but also in terms of gaining insight into the links between child poverty and adult poverty, and the opportunities that exist to break the poverty cycle.