Support and social connectedness

Social connectedness concerns a child's relationship with people in the family, peer group, at school and in the neighbourhood. Support from parents is important for children's well-being and development. The same applies to support from other adults, such as childcare workers, teachers at school, and adults from the family's network or neighbourhood, youth workers and people at sports clubs.

The accessibility of this support for children and young people is a protective factor, as is support from informal and professional support workers. Single-parent families are at greater risk of becoming isolated. This support and social connectedness are therefore particularly important for them.

Professionals can help strengthen families' social networks, for example by:

  • Using buddies or mentors: Research shows that children living in poverty need someone outside the family to talk to. Children experience good contact with another adult as supportive.
  • Coffee mornings: At accessible coffee mornings, parents can exchange experiences and liaison officers can encourage parents to participate in parenting courses or voluntary work.
  • Experts by experience: Experts by experience can be engaged to reach more parents.

Strengthening parents

Parents who feel good are better able to raise, support and encourage their children in their development. Single parents in particular experience a great deal of stress and uncertainty. Read more at Single-parent families and poverty.

Encourage parents to talk about the challenges that financial worries bring. This can provide relief and may give them useful tips. Focus on what is going well in the family, ask parents to identify these things or do so together, and give them extra attention.

Stress and financial worries make it difficult to concentrate on anything else. A number of set times during the day when parents consciously spend time with their children can help with this. These moments are very beneficial for children and help them get started more easily on their own. For example:

  • Have breakfast together every morning.
  • Go outside at a set time every day.
  • Play a game together every afternoon.
  • Read aloud every evening before going to sleep.

Read more about supporting parents at Paying attention to parents' well-being and Supporting parenting and child-rearing as a professional.

Participating in activities

In families living in poverty, children may participate less often in extracurricular activities, even though these activities help develop talents and skills. There are ways to enable them to participate, for example through the Youth Fund for Sport & Culture. Many municipalities have included participation in sports and cultural activities in their support packages for children. However, participation requires more than a subscription or membership. Consider reimbursements for a bicycle, suitable sports clothing or a phone subscription.

By organising sports and cultural activities at or with the school, such as a museum visit, all children attending the school can participate. The condition is that the school does not charge an additional parental contribution for this.

Material assistance

There are various funds, foundations and initiatives for children growing up in poverty. It is useful to know how and where to apply for these forms of material support for families. Some examples are listed below. Also check the website of the municipality where the family lives to see whether it has a fund for vulnerable families.

Each fund has its own application procedure. Sometimes applications are made through a professional or through the school. Families and young people can also apply for support themselves.

The funds below work together to provide assistance for poverty through Sam& for all children. Professionals and families can submit applications here.

  • Kinderhulp: provides financial support to children and young people up to the age of 21 in the areas of development, recreation, basic needs and special matters such as changing one's name, medication or therapy. Intermediaries can apply for reimbursements that are not available through other funds.
  • Youth Fund for Sport & Culture: promotes development opportunities for children and young people up to the age of 18 in sports and creative activities.
  • Leergeld: provides opportunities for children aged 4 to 18 to participate in indoor and outdoor school activities.
  • Stichting Jarige Job: provides a birthday box to children aged 4 through 12.

In addition, these funds and foundations provide material assistance:

More information