Effects of recession on children
It's not just adults who have been affected by the economic recession we are experiencing! Our children too have had to withstand all sorts of changes due to our current economic position. Whether the Christmas gifts last year were not as plentiful as usual, to the forgoing of family vacations, to even less food available for eating. I have not met a single person in the past six months who is not suffering substantially from the economy. Unlike 911, where a particular trauma "shocked our system" causing some, but not all people, to struggle, this time, everyone is feeling it and anxious on some level.
Economists, political scientists, financialists, and futurists have all assured us that "in time", the market and economy will "bounce back". The question of course is "when" and most state years, not months. So, most adults are trying to figure out what to do and cannot afford to "wait it out". From a societal point of view, we have not experienced such an economic condition since the 1930's when most of us were not alive and only some have living parents who remember what it was like. My father, who is fortunately still alive and even working at 87, has told me that what is happening to our country now reminds him of the 1930s but may even be worse given our present unemployment rate and the fact that as a country, we do not manufacture enough, placing too much dependence on foreign import. In other words, everyone needs to start working and perhaps we need to rely on extended family members to help with childcare, so both men and women can get to work to improve the economy. I suggested to Joe Bauer on our San Diego Living Show that I thought that President Obama's intention behind having his mother-in-law live with them in the White House on some level, may have been to set an example for the American family could afford to save money on childcare and allow both men and women, mothers and fathers, to both work.
How these changes affect our children are enormous. From a stress point of view, children, like their parents, are feeling the changes in the economy, whether it is experienced at home, or even at school where budgets have also been cut due to insufficient funding. Whether parents talk to their children about the economy directly, or they are experiencing the changes indirectly, our youth are scared, just like their parents.
Another feeling these days from economic regression is anger. The recent tragic stories of murder/suicides related to economic hardship supports this feeling along with fear, but very few people resort to such horrific and tragic ways. Instead, they become sad and in it's extreme, depressed. I am sure that we are going to find that there is an increase in the diagnosis of depression corelated with our present economic situation. Perhaps we should check the pharmaceutical stocks of anti-depressants and see if their stock is up. Seriously though, it is normal for any normally-functioning person to be feeling the combination of emotions noted above given the realities of today. Obviously, some will feel these emotions stronger or weaker than others, and most people will not become clinically depressed.
So, what can be done and how can we assist our children at a time when we, ourselves, are not feeling well? It is kind of the same question we have when we are asked to care for our children when we are sick ourselves. It is not easy! But, the old adage of "take care of yourself before others" is an essential concept for our times. Our children base their sense of safety, security, and protection on our attitude and as parents and adults, we need to keep this in mind at all times. In other words, it is not just do what you say, but do what you do. When children see their parents manage their own stress through self-nurturing, talking, exercising, and self-encouragement, children take in from what they observe and apply it to themselves. Aside from setting an example, is also how the adult comforts their child when they are worried about something, such as "money". My ten year old daughter Kassidy asks me almost every day if we have enough money and if we are going to be alright? I knew that my answers had to both address her anxiety but also be informative. I had this great talk with her about the economy, recession, political instability, domestic and foreign debt, but also economic cycles and having to survive between them. When she heard my ease in discussing these matters while maintaining a positive attitude, she overtly calmed down and appeared less stressed. A positive attitude is one whereby the adult conveys to the child a sense of safety and an external sense of relief – namely, that the adult will somehow deal effectively with the problem and come up with a solution. This combination then allows some peace in the mind and heart of a child and helps them develop this successful means of dealing with hard times.
Key points
1. Kids are also stressed and are having to make compromises
due to the economy.
2. Children will look to their parents for assurance in a hard time.
3. Parents who best manage themselves during such times give the best
message to their kids.
Dr. Keith Kanner will discuss this valuable topic this Monday, February 2nd @ 8:20am on San Diego 6 News In The Morning
http://community.sandiego6.com/blogs/your_family_matters/archive/2009/01/30/3675941.aspx
