The cost of living crisis is being felt by millions of households across the UK who are struggling to get by as prices soar.
But it's also impacting children too, with a recent survey from Beano Brain and Young Minds revealing that the cost of living crisis has replaced Covid-19 as the leading cause of children's anxiety.
However, approaching the topic of money with children can be tough, with many parents left unsure how exactly to talk to their kids about financial issues at home.
Children's author Hilary Robinson specialises in writing books that help children deal with difficult topics, including death and homelessness.
She spoke to the Mirror about how parents can tackle the topic of money issues with their children. This is what she recommends.
Should you talk to children about the cost of living crisis?
Talking to children about the cost of living crisis can seem difficult, but Hilary advised parents to have conversations with their kids about money concerns.
Explaining why it is so important to talk to your children about financial problems, Hilary revealed that avoiding conversations surrounding money can actually lead to increased anxiety in your children.
She told the Mirror: "Children can pick up on vibes, atmospheres and concerns. For them to harbour those worries without discussing them may lead to, or aggravate, anxiety."
She also said that talking to your children about money now can actually help them later in life.
"The crisis can create an opportunity to start conversations about managing money which may help to equip them for challenges in later life. It may help them to make wise."
How should you talk to children about the cost of living crisis?
Once you've made the decision to talk to your children about the cost of living crisis, the next step is to figure out the best way to approach the conversation.
Hilary recommended that parents follow these tips:
- Speak to them in an age appropriate way
- Be honest, gentle, frank and kind
- Be aware that they will have questions but may not have the vocabulary or reasoning skills to articulate their concerns.
Hilary also explained that one of the key things parents should do when talking to their children is to help them understand how it affects other people, too.
She said: "Explaining that the cost of living crisis is hitting everyone will help them to understand that they are not alone, that we are all in this together.
"Often we are more mindful of the worries of others when we too are sharing the same experiences. Austerity can help to foster a sharing, caring attitude."
As well as talking to your children about the cost of living crisis, getting children actively involved in the process of saving money can be beneficial too, Hilary said.
"Research has shown that helping children understand problems can empower them and giving them some control."
She added: "Let them be part of the money-saving process. Switching off lights, turning off taps, and with older kids, talk to them about vampire energy wastage."
When it comes to whether there's anything you should avoid in a conversation about the cost of living crisis with your children, Hilary added: "Refrain from openly judging others and be mindful that everyone deals with things in their own ways.
"Children need to be empowered by ideas not by opinions."
Hilary's latest book, God's Love in a Nutshell, was published by SPCK in September.
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