{"id":357849,"date":"2026-04-01T02:38:16","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T02:38:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/357849\/"},"modified":"2026-04-01T02:38:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T02:38:16","slug":"steinbach-counsellor-shares-tips-for-talking-to-kids-about-rising-costs-steinbachonline-com","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/357849\/","title":{"rendered":"Steinbach counsellor shares tips for talking to kids about rising costs – SteinbachOnline.com"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the cost of living continues to climb, many families are feeling the pressure at grocery stores and gas pumps. A Steinbach-area counsellor<\/a> says how parents talk about those rising expenses can have a lasting impact on their children.<\/p>\n

Michelle Peters of Beyond the Valley Counseling<\/a> shares practical strategies for discussing financial stress without creating fear or anxiety at home.<\/p>\n

Modelling calm in stressful moments<\/p>\n

Peters says one of the most important things parents can do is be mindful of their own reactions when faced with higher prices.<\/p>\n

\u201cKids take their cues from us,\u201d she explains. \u201cSo a phrase that I like to use is, we need to lend them our calm. So if we are calm, that’s what they will pick up on. If we are anxious, that’s what they will pick up on.\u201d<\/p>\n

She notes that everyday situations like grocery shopping can quickly become teachable moments. Rather than reacting with alarm or frustration when prices are higher than expected, Peters encourages parents to pause and choose their words carefully.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s easy to just have that gut reaction of like, \u2018oh my goodness,\u2019\u201d she says. \u201cThat kind of verbiage will cause kids to pick up on the anxiety.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Teaching kids about choices, not fear<\/p>\n

Instead of using phrases like \u201cwe can\u2019t afford that,\u201d Peters recommends reframing conversations in a way that gives children a sense of control and understanding.<\/p>\n

For younger children, that can be as simple as explaining that certain purchases are \u201cnot the best choice we can make with our money right now.\u201d She also suggests involving kids in small decisions at the store.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, this week we can buy cereal or we can buy chips as maybe a treat, or whatever. And which one would you like to choose?\u201d she gives as an example.<\/p>\n

That approach helps children learn the difference between wants and needs, while also giving them a sense of participation.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy giving them that agency to choose, it also teaches them\u2026 what do we need to put in our grocery cart,\u201d Peters adds.<\/p>\n

She says these conversations can naturally lead to bigger lessons about saving and trade-offs, such as choosing between a treat now or saving money for a future family activity.<\/p>\n

Avoiding confusion around money<\/p>\n

Peters also points out that children often misunderstand financial situations when they lack context.<\/p>\n

She shares a personal childhood memory of being told there was no money for a fast-food outing, only to later see her parent pay with a large bill.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs kids, we were like, what on earth?\u201d she recalls. \u201cWe didn\u2019t have the concept of\u2026 she probably has to pay the hydro bill with that $100.\u201d<\/p>\n

Those moments, she says, highlight the importance of clear and consistent messaging when talking about finances with children.<\/p>\n

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Managing reactions at the gas pump<\/p>\n

With fuel prices fluctuating, Peters says the same principles apply when filling up the tank.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really about being aware and then just taking that breath to centre yourself,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

One strategy she uses personally is adjusting expectations ahead of time.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I need to go and fill up, I just mentally go, okay, it\u2019s probably going to jump,\u201d she explains. \u201cAnd then I\u2019m like, oh, okay, that\u2019s a little more palatable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Parents can also involve children in problem-solving by discussing ways to reduce costs, such as combining errands or carpooling.<\/p>\n

Facing financial anxiety head-on<\/p>\n

Beyond conversations with children, Peters says adults also need to be mindful of how they talk to themselves about money.<\/p>\n

\u201cA big piece of this is just knowledge,\u201d she says. \u201cHaving the knowledge about what is actually coming into your bank account and what is actually going out.\u201d<\/p>\n

She acknowledges that many people avoid reviewing their finances because it feels overwhelming, but says that avoidance often increases anxiety.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe best way to actually decrease that anxiety is to sit down regularly and look over your bank accounts,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Creating a budget and tracking spending can help reduce impulse purchases and provide a clearer picture of where adjustments can be made.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you have categories for spending, it actually cuts down on the impulse buying,\u201d Peters notes.<\/p>\n

Getting creative and involving the family<\/p>\n

In some cases, Peters says families may need to explore additional sources of income or new ways of managing expenses.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a beautiful place where you can also bring your kids\u2026 into it,\u201d she says, pointing to ideas like side jobs, home-based businesses, gardening, or even bartering.<\/p>\n

She adds that involving older children in these discussions can help them build valuable life skills while contributing to solutions.<\/p>\n

Challenging worst-case thinking<\/p>\n

Peters also addresses the tendency for financial stress to spiral into worst-case scenarios.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you find yourself catastrophizing\u2026 it\u2019s about stopping that thought and then challenging it,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Instead of assuming the worst, she encourages people to look for practical alternatives, such as payment plans or temporary solutions.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s about challenging and then grounding yourself back into reality,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n

Reaching out for support<\/p>\n

For those feeling overwhelmed, Peters emphasizes the importance of seeking help.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you are finding that you are just really struggling\u2026 reach out to other people,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

She points to local resources such as the Steinbach Family Resource Centre<\/a>, churches, and professional counselling services as places where individuals can find support with budgeting and emotional well-being.<\/p>\n

Peters also notes that financial anxiety can sometimes be rooted in past experiences, such as childhood poverty or instability, and may require deeper reflection or professional support.<\/p>\n

Extending grace during difficult times<\/p>\n

Above all, Peters says it is important for individuals and families to be patient with themselves as they navigate financial challenges.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe one thing that I always like to remind people is give yourself grace,\u201d she says. \u201cBe gentle with yourself. Things will work out. They always do.\u201d<\/p>\n

-Written with files from Corny Rempel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As the cost of living continues to climb, many families are feeling the pressure at grocery stores and…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":357850,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[134,554,555,111,139,69],"class_list":{"0":"post-357849","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mental-health","8":"tag-health","9":"tag-mental-health","10":"tag-mentalhealth","11":"tag-new-zealand","12":"tag-newzealand","13":"tag-nz"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/357849","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=357849"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/357849\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/357850"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=357849"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=357849"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=357849"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}