[ad_1]
Dear EarthTalk: Do you have any suggestions for how to talk with my children about climate change?
—Alea J. Rowe (J. Rowe), HI
As we gain a better understanding of the human-caused environmental effects on the environment, we change our habits. However, we also have to prepare the next generation. According to a National Public Radio (NPR), 84 percent of parents believe children should be educated about climate change, while only 45 percent report that they have had a conversation with their children on the subject. Breaking the silence on climate change is an important step towards developing intergenerational solutions.
Clinical psychologists like Wendy Greenspun caution that parents take a “developmentally sensitive” approach when preparing for climate change conversations. Antioch University environmental educator David Sobel recommends that children younger than 6 years old spend time outdoors in order to foster a close connection with the natural world. Sobel also suggests that it is a good idea to teach good habits early in life. Brown University has shown that routines and habits can be formed as early in life. Children who learn these lessons from an early age will have a long-lasting impact on their lives.
Sobel says that children should wait until they turn nine to address more difficult climate issues. Keep in mind that children may already have heard about climate change. It can be helpful to gauge their knowledge. To introduce the science, Robin Gurwitch, a professor and psychologist at Duke University, suggests using the “blanket analogy,” which explains that the Earth is protected by a layer, like a blanket, that keeps it at the right temperature. Climate change is caused by the addition of gases to the atmosphere by people using lots of energy. This makes the earth too hot. If you are unable answer questions, ask them together and keep the discussion going.
Climate crisis is a complex topic. It is important to maintain open communication while also avoiding causing harm to your mental health or that of your children. Susie Burke is a senior psychologist at Australian Psychological Society. She suggests three big-picture solutions to cope with climate anxiety. Emotion-focused coping is the first. This can be as simple as spending quality time with loved ones or taking a break. Next is problem-focused coping which is to “…try to mitigate the actual problem that is causing the stress.” The third is meaning-focused coping, thinking about “how to frame the problem so that we can continue to hope and not collapse into cynicism….”
While teaching children about seemingly insurmountable challenges is one way to interpret climate change, it is important that they also focus on the solutions. Children need to know that scientists around the world are working hard to solve this problem, and that ordinary citizens can contribute in meaningful ways. As a family, you can suggest ways that you can help the cause. For example, a meatless Monday ritual or participation in the Turn It Off Campaign (which encourages drivers to not idle their cars when parked). These small actions can help you make your children part the solution while they learn about it.
CONTACT
EarthTalk® is produced by Roddy Scheer & Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 nonprofit EarthTalk. See more at https://emagazine.com. To donate, visit https//earthtalk.org. Send questions to: [email protected].
RELATED POSTS
[ad_2]
