Do Children Need to Know the Financial Condition of the Family? Here's the Explanation

YOGYAKARTA - Financial problems are often the source of problems in the family. Not a few people wonder if children need to know the financial condition of the family. Psychologists explain, children should not know and bear the financial burden of the family or parents, because it can have a negative impact on their mental health and development.

Quoted from Antara, a clinical child psychologist Reti Oktania, M.Psi., explained that children are in a developmental phase in which they need security, stability, and emotional support. Burdening children with family economic problems is at risk of causing feelings of guilt, anxiety, and helplessness.

"Children do not have the capacity to solve their parents' financial problems. They should focus on development, learning, and playing. Economic burden is not their task," said Reti.

Do Children Need to Know the Financial Condition of the Family?

Many parents think that if they don't talk about debt or the family's difficult economy, the child will remain safe. However, Reti emphasizes that children are sensitive to the situations around them.

"Children can feel tension, anxiety, or uncertainty in the household, even if they are not directly told about the debt. They absorb the atmosphere, body language, and reactions of adults," he said.

This condition risks making children feel the following:

Lonely: feeling isolated because there is no one to talk to Worthlessness: feeling worthless because he thinks his existence adds to the family's problems Helpless: feeling helpless because he can't change the situation Hopeless: feeling there is no hope of improving the situation

If not handled, these four feelings can develop into serious psychological stress.

The role of parents and the environment for children's mental health

Parents should build and maintain positive communication, calm children, and continue to ensure that their basic needs are met, including education, health, and a sense of security.

Social environments, such as teachers, friends, or neighbors, can also support children in the following ways:

Greeting and asking about the child regularly Showing empathy Providing assistance according to capacity, for example, additional learning facilities Do not judge families because of financial problems

Most importantly, according to Reti, children still feel safe, heard, and are not a solution to adult problems.

Financial education for children

Reti explained that the most important thing is to introduce the concept of money to children, but it must be adjusted to their age and developmental capacity:

Children aged 3-5 years can be taught in terms of knowing money and simple price differences. Age 10-12 years can start by saving or understanding short-term goals. In-depth discussions about the family's financial condition should be postponed until the child is mature enough, for example, teenagers or early high school.

That's a brief explanation of whether children need to know about the family's financial condition. Hopefully useful. Visit VOI.id for other interesting information.

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