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Columbia parents keep economic stress away from children

By Brooke Bishop
Hazelwood Central High School

COLUMBIA — Margie Shanafelt is a single mother with financial problems who often must decide whether a toy or an activity for her daughters is within her budget.

An Illinois resident interviewed as she shopped at Goodwill in Columbia, Shanafelt works in the food service industry to support her four daughters. Because they are so young, Shanafelt prefers to keep them from knowing her problems.

If they somehow were to learn of her financial woes, she would be willing to let them know. As the girls get older, she will make it clear that pinching pennies is necessary to pay the bills, she said.

"I would tell them what was going on and even try to persuade them to get a job," Shanafelt said. "Parents should be willing to share information."

She agrees with the professionals who say that parents should be honest with their children about their financial situation.

Several parents are tightening their money belts to provide for their families during the economic downturn. Necessities cannot be sacrificed, so the "wants" of children are going unmet.

Some parents, unsure of what to do, turn to counselors for help.

Kittie Rogers is a licensed clinical social worker at a Columbia counseling center who speaks with both parents and children about their stress levels, especially during times of financial difficulties.

Instead of giving advice on how to handle finances, Rogers usually sends her clients to churches and similar sources that provide assistance. Rogers said she often tells her clients that parents should be honest, yet not too upfront or detailed, about what is occurring in their households.

Children are also finding tips on how to deal with the economy in after-school programs in addition to looking to parents and counselors for advice.

The Intersection offers free after-school care to students from kindergarten to 12th grade. Michelle Lindstedt, education director for The Intersection, said children need to learn budgeting skills for later in life.

Lindstedt said many of the program's classes for all grades focus on good budgeting skills. The Intersection uses "The 40 Assets to Succeed" approach to structure its classes. This approach includes planning, sound decision making, restraint and responsibility, all of which aid in developing good budgeting skills.

"Budgeting is a very important skill to teach children, especially during this time in the economy," Lindstedt said.