by Sherrie Bourg Carter

Created on: February 06, 2010   Last Updated: February 07, 2010

In today’s exceedingly trying economic times, just about everyone is worried about finances. In fact, it’s safe to say that financial problems are a leading source of stress in American families today. And, of course, if you add the normal stress of parenting to the mix, fears and worries can grow exponentially.

Although most parents try to shield their children from this type of negativity, the reality is that increased tension among parents usually leads to increased tension in the household – both of which most children feel whether you want them to or not. In other words, despite your best efforts, it is very likely that your children are very much aware of everything you’re trying to keep from them.

Why? Because children are keenly attuned to their parents’ emotional states and tension in the household. It is how most children are wired. Therefore, your attempt to keep them “out of the loop” may actually have unintended consequences – namely, worrying silently about you and what is going to happen to their family as a result of the increased tension they sense in the household.

What are some signs that this might be happening to your child? An important signal is a change in your child’s behavior. Is your child eating more or less than normal? Is she sleeping more or less than normal? Does he seem more withdrawn? Is she having increased nightmares? Is he avoiding situations or people in ways that aren’t typical of his personality? Are her grades dropping? Is he suddenly engaging in nervous habits, such as nail biting? All of these can be signals that your child is overly stressed.

If these changes in behavior are severe or are significantly disruptive to your child’s life, then certainly professional consultation or intervention are important options to consider. However, for most children, open communication with their parents about what is happening and why there is increased tension in the house will go a long way in reducing their stress. Of course, this doesn’t mean you should overburden your child with your problems, but for most families, family problems and difficult topics can be effectively dealt with by having healthy family discussions.

Here are some tips for making sure your child isn’t overly stressed about these challenging economic times:

1) Hold family meetings as often as necessary to have open discussions about the changes brought about by the current

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>