Children affected by recession stress

PARENTAL stress about job security and finances is having a knock-on effect on children, with concerns that youngsters are now feeling the pain of the recession themselves, a health launch will hear today.

The increased burdens that many parents face as a result of the economic downturn are now manifesting in children aged from two to teens as some are freezing up emotionally while others display erratic behaviour.

Child psychologist David Coleman says pressures on struggling families will be even greater in the coming weeks due to children’s expectations at Christmas. But there are simple ways of de-stressing recession-hit families, he said ahead of the release of a survey on health and wellbeing.