With major climate headlines in the news and on social media, and effects being felt locally, many kids are aware of the current state of uncertainty.
Some are even experiencing anxiety and depression because of the current state of the environment and have questions around the level of support from government and organizations. This is a legitimate and rational response. As adults, it’s our responsibility to help them understand and manage their feelings.
Recent survey data shows that young people across Canada are experiencing a range of climate emotions at high rates.
They often feel afraid (66 per cent), sad (65 per cent), anxious (63 per cent), helpless (58 per cent), and powerless (56 per cent). Nearly half (48 per cent) reported feeling “very” or “extremely” worried.
Two local experts shared tips on how to talk to your child about climate change emotions, and things you can do together to get involved.
1. Listen
First, Dr. Anne-Marie Mawhiney, a retired Professor of Social Work at Laurentian University, says to listen to your child’s concerns and take them seriously.
Dr. Mawhiney published her first Young Adults novel, Spindrifts, three years ago. In it, young protagonists shape the planet’s future. Her concern about climate change inspired her to write, so she got informed.
“What are they hearing? How does it make them feel? What can they do? What can you do as a family?” she asks.
A good starting point is to ask your child or teen if they have any questions. This helps you understand what they’ve heard and thought, says Dr. Diana Coholic, a Professor of Social Work at Laurentian University.
2. Keep your response age-appropriate
“It’s common to avoid discussing climate change with children under eight. However, we can help even very young kids appreciate our world, what makes it healthy, and how to help nature,” says Dr. Mawhiney.
She believes learning about climate change at school can help kids over eight. Young people this age read, watch TV, use the internet, and inform themselves about their world.
“My experience with middle school-aged children (grades six to nine) is they are already well-informed about climate change and at a level that some adults lack. They also have clear views on how the problems causing it occurred and the urgency we face in reversing the path we’re on,” says the author.
Dr. Coholic admits that it’s a tricky issue, but agrees that kids should learn about climate change. “On one hand, this is reality, it’s science, so what are we doing if we’re not discussing this? But it must be done in a way where people don’t feel doomed,” she says. “What scientists are saying is alarming. Many adults can’t handle it and don’t want to think about it.”
3. Ensure kids have healthy coping strategies
Dr. Coholic runs an arts-based mindfulness group for children and young people. She and her team developed a 12-week program called the Holistic Arts-Based Program (HAP), which incorporates drawing, painting, working with clay, listening to music, and other creative activities. It teaches kids to express their feelings. Through the program, youth improve their mood and self-esteem, and develop better coping skills and relationships.
“With climate emotion, a lot of it is anxiety, feeling overwhelmed, and anger. The whole point of our program is to help kids express themselves, understand their feelings, and channel that emotion,” Dr. Coholic explains.
She has run HAP for 20 years and worked with hundreds of kids. She also runs a private mental health practice for children and youth. While her work doesn’t focus on climate change, the skills young people learn from her group can be applied to climate-related anxiety. They help kids process difficult emotions.
Helping kids express themselves increases their self-awareness, which is crucial for understanding their experiences and how they’re affected by them. “The more self-awareness we have, the better we can identify our feelings and why; then we have strategies to manage them,” says Dr. Coholic.
Climate change worries haven’t come up yet in her small group work, but she’s starting to see it in her private practice. One example was a teenager who expressed anxiety about wanting to travel soon, before the places they want to see are destroyed.
“I suspect we’ll see more and more of this as time goes on,” she says.
She uses the control wheel as a helpful tool in her private practice. “When discussing with kid’s things that are outside of their control, help them focus on what they do control. Mental focus is often on external factors; many kids with anxiety worry about what other people are saying, thinking, and doing. It’s the same with climate anxiety—without a sense of what we can do, you’re just overwhelmed.”
Another great tool is mindfulness. It trains us to have a more flexible mind and notice its activity. It helps you take a step back—showing you ‘here is your mind and what you’re focused on’—and helps you avoid getting stuck in thoughts and dwelling on them.
4. Take action
Start by helping kids develop an appreciation for nature.
For kids ages two to seven and their parents:
- Build a vegetable garden together.
- Grow an indoor plant or two by the window (or in a community garden if you don’t have a yard).
- Help water and maintain the plants.
- Harvest and enjoy your produce together.
- Go for walks around the community and point out plants, trees, insects, ducks, and small animals.
- Model positive behaviours, such as not throwing tissues, garbage, or cardboard cups on the ground or in lakes and rivers.
- Share basic science facts, like how photosynthesis works and why trees and plants are important.
“Even two to seven-year-olds can help plant and water seeds,” says Dr. Mawhiney. “At these young ages, we want to instill a love for our natural world and basic protection methods, without discussing climate change.”
Remember that children learn by observing adults. She advises, “There are resources online, in libraries, on television, and through local advocacy groups to help you reduce waste and conserve energy. When your child asks why you do something related to sustainability, explain in language they can understand.”
For kids eight+ and their parents:
- Read about climate change.
- Watch documentaries and shows.
- Listen to climate podcasts.
- Be aware of their social media use and change some patterns (stop using certain platforms or following specific accounts).
- Attend and participate in community events together, such as local cleanups or local rivers and lakes stewardship groups.
- Engage with local advocacy groups like EarthCare.
5. Give them a sense of control and hope
“Focus on their actions, values, and what you can do. This is really important,” says Dr. Coholic. “For hope, people need to feel some control.”
Dr. Mawhiney suggests finding out their vision for the future and what you can do together to help. “In Greater Sudbury, show and tell the regreening results: how it is still possible to reclaim and rebuild the natural environment”.
Infamous for its "moonscape" Greater Sudbury was once one of the single greatest point sources of sulfur and ‘acid rain’ on the globe. Now Greater Sudbury is a leading global example of how scientists and the broader community can work together to restore damaged landscapes.
Resources about the Regreening Program can be found in local libraries, on the City’s website, and online.
She recommends Dr. Jane Goodall’s documentary Reasons for Hope. “Your child will learn about several places around the world, including here in Greater Sudbury, where people successfully rebuilt the environment. This will give them hope for the future and an understanding of their role in making positive change.”
“There’s still time to make a difference,” Dr. Mawhiney assures. “We need to be realistic about climate change while instilling hope by involving everyone, young and old, in making positive changes. Greater Sudbury is a great place to explore the balance between climate change concerns and future hope. Imagine if every person and business on our planet made positive changes—what a difference that would make for our young people’s future!”
Government agencies such as municipalities can play an important role in preparing for and combating climate change. Learn more about the City of Greater Sudbury’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gases and becoming a climate resilient community at greatersudbury.ca/climateaction
If you have a project you’d like the City to highlight, contact Jennifer Babin-Fenske at [email protected].
RESOURCES
- Spindrifts, a book by Anne-Marie Mawhiney
- Regreening program - The Sudbury Story
- www.dianacoholic.com
- Toolkit for Parents/Guardians
- Get inspired: Meet local climate activist Sophia Mathur (Maclean’s)
- Climate Resilience Group for Teens, from the Good Grief Network
- A Guide for talking to children about climate change from LifeKind