Here are six tips to help your kids cope with economic uncertainty. 

Our kids don’t pay mortgages, buy groceries or have stock portfolios, but they are not immune to an economic crisis. Economic upheavals can be traumatic for all involved, but talking to your kids alleviates the stress they feel. 



1) Pull teens into “adult” discussions about family finances. They’ll appreciate constructive and developmentally appropriate discussions that show you trust their maturity. 

2) Younger children aren’t equipped to carry our anxieties on top of their normal insecurities. Reassure them that they’re going to be cared for. 

3) Use budget-cutting as an opportunity to decide family values and priorities. Make family meetings fun problem solving exercises, not grim reality lessons. 

4) While children shouldn’t have to earn money for food or rent, they can help pay for some of their own expenses if they can balance school and a job. But remember that school comes first. 

5) Be realistic, but positive, as you explain in age-appropriate terms what’s happening. Help your children express their feelings, and solicit and welcome their ideas. 

6) Take care of yourself so you can manage your own emotions and stress.

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