Doc: Children Feel Weight Of Recession

Dr. Alvin Poussaint Says Economic Tension "Severely Impacts" Children

(CBS)  Dr. Alvin Poussaint of the Harvard Medical School told Bob Schieffer on CBS’ "Face the Nation" Sunday that children are being disproportionately affected by the recession.

"Children need to feel safe, secure and protected. And the economic downturn makes them feel the opposite, and they can see it in their own families or in the families of their friends," Poussaint said.

He added that children "go to school. They hear about people losing their jobs. They know that things have had to be cut back in their own homes, so I think they're feeling a lot of tension."

The doctor said that children are feeling a loss just like their parents and that, disturbingly, child abuse, neglect and domestic violence rates are up, which "severely impacts children not just in the here and now, but also in the future."

He argued that loss of jobs and homelessness has also led to malnutrition in young Americans.

Schieffer asked if the impact of this recession was similar to that of the Great Depression, and Poussaint said no.

He said that growing up in an East Harlem tenement during the Depression he had very little but, "we just took that as, well, that's the way the world is. We didn't say we were poor, but we didn't have very much."

"I think today's children have been used to much more affluence," he argued.

He did note that he thinks minorities are suffering disproportionately in this recession.

What can parents do to help the children of the recession?

Be optimistic, Poussaint says.

"Find out what they know. What do they know about a recession? Maybe they know about people losing their jobs. See what they know and what their concerns are, so that they can be addressed," he suggested.

"And the idea would be to reassure them."

Dr. Poussaint was interviewed from Portland Maine on "Face the Nation" this morning as part of CBS News’ special coverage in partnership with USA Today of "Children of the Recession."

[j40405]

If parents would not teach their children that they can have anything they ask for thechildren would not beso aware ofthe recission because household cutbacks would not be so noticiable. So tell the kids to get over it, They just can't have the toy or the happy meal today. They'll have to wait.

[valh1]

Kids are smart enough to see the signs of the recession going on around us. They know that their friends have parents who have lost their jobs or their own parents are unemployed. This is just a little wake up call as to what will happen the rest of their lives, ups and downs. I mean look at the people who survived the Depression. They have been through far worse times but they made it. Many are still alive to tell you how bad it was. Do you know any other generation with more strength and resolve?

[hypnotoad72]

BTW: At college, I am getting high grades - I decided to go back and go for a Bachelor's degree, because it is becoming "the new high school diploma" for corporations. Ah, the good ol' days of the 1950s when a high school diploma got all sorts of people all sorts of well paying jobs... and security.

I'll be nearing 40 in a few years (hot damn, here comes age discrimination in a few years...) I am seeing kids half my age not attend class because it's nice outside. Others who do attend bleat to their buddies about how they didn't get their assignments in.

I don't know about them, but I have a full time job - which also requires me to learn as well, because I like being employed and having an income I deserve (and I don't ask for much either).

Maybe our kids are just lazy. Or they see what's going on and are just living because there may be no tomorrow. Forget them; I have goals and I will achieve them. Is that not valued in society anymore?

[hypnotoad72]

Well, if children need to feel safe and secure and protected, previous presidents wouldn't have racked up s***loads of debt in the name of feeling safe and secure.

Meanwhile, more jobs go offshore, wages go stagnant or drop -- parity between cost of living and working wages has been going down for a couple or more decades now... I no longer blame people who have debt. In more cases than none, it's unavoidable - especially if you want useless **** like education, surgery, and so on.

Most of you who've responded, wake up. I don't disagree with you, but you sure are being myopic and one-dimensional.

[formrusmcsgt]

"Children need to feel safe, secure and protected. And the economic downturn makes them feel the opposite, and they can see it in their own families or in the families of their friends," Poussaint said.
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Mainly because their parents spent every dime they ever made, including future income (credit) and did not save anything for a "rainy day" which gives you security.

[Dadgumgerman]

Maybe kids will consequently learn that life is not really plastic and phony, like TV and all the garbage they witness at school recess.

[albert571]

Ha Ha I have to agree with you on that,but on the brite side of this the children of America will have President Obama to thank when they bring their paychecks home and 3/4 of it goes to pay Mr. Bigbrains Obama I.O.U. off and their children and their grandchildren and their greatgrandchildren,will continue to pay for the mistakes of Mr.Quick fix Obama!!!

[hsudul]

In the interview with the child why did you select one who was obviously overweight
I thought all in all your chioice of a child could have been more average. he seemed to
be obbessed with him having a better life andsaying little about his fellow human beings
IN the meantime teens are spending money like water, cell phones,concerts and
fad clothes... & piercing. Does't anyone do chores anymore and help mom with the
expenses?