Childhood sadness due to money worries and inflation: ‘My mother is always down’ | Inland

At the moment, six out of ten young people in the Netherlands are confused by high inflation, according to a representative poll by the UN children’s rights organization UNICEF Netherlands. About 20 percent of young people also indicate that they have to deal with money worries at home. This causes persistent stress, frustration, anger and sadness in this group. Shame also plays an important role.

More than a thousand young people between the ages of ten and eighteen were asked questions about their experiences in practice. And the answers don’t lie. These young people say, for example, that they are not always allowed to shower or only take a short shower, that going out to dinner or ordering food with the whole family has become rarer and that friends are no longer invited home because that means an extra expenditure on groceries.

The emotional side of the tighter wallet does not leave young people untouched either. They find it especially bad that it makes their parents unhappy (“My mother is always down”), but also annoying because they now have to constantly watch prices while shopping or annoying because they are constantly reminded of their energy consumption (“I have like whining when I forget to turn off a lamp’).

The youth poll shows that 18 percent of young people with money worries at home are ashamed of this. More than a quarter don’t talk about it with anyone. Worryingly, says UNICEF Netherlands director Suzanne Laszlo: ,,That will have an effect on their mental well-being and have consequences for the extent to which they can participate in society. By making the concerns negotiable, young people can indicate what they need and parents and professionals can look around the child to see what options are available for this.”

Her plea is comparable to that of Queen Máxima, who also called on young people in a letter a week and a half ago to talk about their problems. ‘The sooner we pick up signals, the greater the chance that young people will regain their mental resilience before problems become too big’, the Majesty said in her letter at the time. ‘After all, mental problems often arise at a young age.’

The UN Children’s Rights Organization calls on national and local governments to put children at the center of tackling money problems and poverty. In this way, children can continue to participate fully despite financial worries from themselves or their parents. UNICEF also emphasizes the importance of listening to children and young people. By actively asking for their opinion, there is a better insight into the problems that young people experience.

Because the young people who were allowed to give their opinion expect that money worries at home will continue for the time being, with all the uncertainties in the world. “We are not going on holiday this year. Mama wants to wait for the energy prices first,” it sounds. Or: ,,Even if the war with Ukraine is over, it won’t get cheaper. My parents work hard and we still had to sell our caravan.” One young person also shows a lot of perspective: ,,You only need a little to be satisfied. Branded clothing and kinky or ‘cool’ gadgets won’t make you happy, but friends and safety at home and beyond will make you happy.”

UNICEF Netherlands investigates what concerns children and young people in order to make the voice of young people heard. The organization thus implements Article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It states that children have the right to be heard and to express their views on matters that concern them.

*On the website of budget expert Nibud tips on how to get around in difficult times.