Recession. Foreclosure. Layoffs. Panic on Wall Street. World Economic Meltdown. To some kids, these may be words they hear in passing. To others, these are words that have drastically changed their lives during the last year. Award-winning host Linda Ellerbee and psychologist Dr. Jeff Gardere listen to a group of kids from across the country who represent the spectrum of economic struggles many families face today, on Nick News with Linda Ellerbee: $TRE$$ED OUT! The Economic Crisis and You, premiering Sunday, Sept. 6, at 8:00 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon. Ellerbee, Dr. Gardere and the kids also offer coping strategies to get through this difficult time.
“These kids were courageous to come on national television and speak so honestly about their fears, their anger, their shame, and their very genuine pain,” said Ellerbee. “Some of these kids are filled with hope. And some seem to have lost all hope. The goal of this special is to let kids know that they are not alone, and that what’s happening is not their fault. This is a special no parent should miss because these kids are saying things all parents need to hear right now.”
According to a recent study by the Scarborough Kids Internet Panel (S.K.I.P), 74% of kids ages 13-17 said they’re worried about the economy and 23% said they’re "very worried.” The real issue is stress. As Josie, age 13, says, "What affects parents affects kids, and when parents are stressed, kids are stressed." Right now parents are stressed, and kids worry about them; they worry that family fighting will lead to divorce, or that the family will never find a new home, or new jobs, and their lives will never get better.
And so sometimes they lie. As Leah, age 14, says, “You don’t wanna go around saying like, ‘Yeah, my dad lost his job’…that’s not something you wanna share with the world.” Kids often blame themselves. Both of Darius’ (age 13) parents have lost their jobs, and he feels guilty. “I think my mom could have saved more money as in gas-wise, but I always wanted go somewhere and get out the house.” Most kids feel justifiably powerless. David, age 12, whose house is going into foreclosure, says of his parents, “I just feel bad for them, that we’re losing our home and there’s nothing I can do about it.” Ryan, age 15, is trying to get used to the fact that the pork business and farm that has been in his family for generations is now gone. Other kids face other, equally scary situations.
Kids are sacrificing everything from family trips and outings to birthday parties to a chance at college. But some have begun to see that good that can come out of a tough situation. As Darius says, “All the time I spent in the house, I got to realize who I really am.” Kids also share strategies for survival. Sharris, age 13, says, “We basically cope by staying close together…and believing that we’re gonna work our way through it.” Emily, age 14, says, “I know a lot of people have it way worse than me. No matter what, don’t give up hope.” In the end, they try to look to the future. As Leah says, “I don’t think there’s much we can do now, but I think that when we can carry on into our future, our entire generation, we could be a better America… there will be less careless spending and maybe the economy will be even better.”
Nick News, produced by Lucky Duck Productions, is now in its 19th year, and is the longest-running kids’ news show in television history. It has built its reputation on the respectful and direct way it speaks to kids about the important issues of the day. Nick News recently was honored with its first ever Edward R. Murrow Award for “Network News Documentary” for the documentary special, Coming Home: When Parents Return from War, marking the first-ever kids television program to receive the prestigious award. Over the years, Nick News has received more than 20 Emmy nominations and numerous Emmy wins, including last year, when “The Untouchable Kids of India” won the 2008 Prime Time Emmy for Outstanding Children’s Program. In 2007, “Private Worlds: Kids and Autism” won the Emmy for Outstanding Children’s Programming. In 1994, the entire series, Nick News, won the Emmy for Outstanding Children’s Programming. In 1998, “What Are You Staring At?” a program about kids with physical disabilities, won the Emmy for Outstanding Children’s Programming. In 2002, “Faces of Hope: The Kids of Afghanistan,” won the Emmy for Outstanding Children’s Programming. In 2004, two Nick News Specials, “The Courage to Live: Kids, South Africa and AIDS” and “There’s No Place Like Home,” a special about homeless kids in America, were both nominated for the Outstanding Children’s Programming Emmy. In 2005, it won the Emmy for Outstanding Children’s Programming for its show, “From the Holocaust to the Sudan.” Nick News, produced by Lucky Duck Productions, is also the recipient of three Peabody Awards, including a personal award given to Ellerbee for her coverage for kids of the President Clinton investigation. The series has also received two Columbia duPont Awards and more than a dozen Parents’ Choice Awards.
