According to psychologists, certain subjects deserve not to be exposed to young people.
Children are real sponges, and even before they know how to express themselves, they already understand everything we say. Indeed, the youngest feel our emotions, sometimes our stress, and certain subjects to which they are exposed could make them anxious. Parents sometimes tend to think that their children are not really paying attention to adults’ conversations, and so start discussions that should not be heard by younger children.
Certain everyday situations arise more often than we think and concern many families. Many parents do indeed encounter financial problems, but by broaching the subject with (or in front of) the children, the latter could draw their own conclusions, often imagining the worst, explains Ann-Louise Lockhart to the Huffington Post, pediatric psychologist and parenting coach. “Children don’t yet have the cognitive tools to fully understand adult finances“, recalls the specialist. “Children may think, for example, that the family will lose their house or that they will not be able to buy food, even if the situation is not that extreme“, she adds.
As a result, this could generate anxiety in the child and for some, a feeling of guilt. Indeed, the latter could feel like being “a burden” for their parents, especially if they need new clothes or new shoes, explains the psychologist. But that doesn’t mean adults should completely hide their financial worries. Just use a calm tone, without dramatizing, simply explaining things. To be more reassuring, you can for example tell him “we respect a budget so we can make good choices”. “You can help them understand that adults have systems to manage their spending and that their needs will be met,” she advises.
Indeed, money should not be a taboo subject within the family. It is also an opportunity to educate them according to their age by making them aware of responsible spending and futile purchases. “The main thing is to avoid overwhelming them with money-related stress, as is the case for adults,” advises another specialist, Brianne Billups Hughes, family therapist.
