Talking to your children about climate change

If you haven’t already done so, it can really help you have informed conversations with your kids if you read up a bit about the climate emergency. A good place to start is the Net Zero Nation website. This article from the BBC also provides a useful introduction. 

You could even download a climate change conversation pack from the Net Zero Nation website to help you get started.

Like the coronavirus pandemic, climate change can make adults feel just as anxious, frustrated and powerless as children and young people. So it’s a good idea to talk through your feelings with a partner or friend before talking to your children, to make sure you don’t pass any fears on to your children.

If your children are concerned about the environment (or even if they’re not!) it will help calm their fears and frustrations if they see you taking small steps to help the situation. Further down the page you'll find ideas for how you as a family can make changes to how you travel, what you eat and what you buy. Remember that nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something. 

Try to find out how much your children know about climate change and whether or not it’s worrying them by asking them open questions (these are questions that can’t be answered by a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’). You could start by asking what they’ve learnt about it in school, or by reading a book about environmental issues together.

If your child expresses interest in something in particular, like how our oceans are affected by plastic pollution, or the health of our rainforests, offer to find out more together.

If your child seems anxious, help them express and name their feelings and emotions, and steer the conversation towards finding ways to get active together. Our page on supporting your child’s mental health has some helpful tips for talking about feelings and dealing with negative thoughts.

When you talk about climate change, it’s important to have the courage to explore the seriousness of the situation and discuss what it means. Don’t dismiss their fears and tell them everything will be okay, as this may make them feel you’re not listening to them or don’t understand how they feel.

It’s also important to focus on creating hope. Explain how people, organisations and companies all across Scotland are working tirelessly to improve the situation, to create a better future for everyone – regardless of where they live, what they do, and who they are – and that we can all do our bit. Just make sure they know it isn’t all down to them or their generation – it’s up to everyone to do it together.

Thinking and talking about the seriousness of climate change can make us all feel anxious and powerless, but remember that these are completely reasonable reactions to the situation. Feel free to say that you also feel worried (if you do). If the conversation gets ‘stuck’ solely on the problem, try to redirect it towards talking about the solutions and finding ways to contribute. 

Your child may have lots of good ideas for ways your family can be more ‘green’. Asking for their ideas and putting them into practice if you can will help them feel less anxious, and will also show them how they can influence what other people do.

Children (and adults!) benefit greatly from being out in nature. Connecting to nature helps everyone care more about the planet. Think about how you can bring nature into your everyday life. Everything counts: going for a walk in the woods, growing cress on the windowsill or going to a park are all great options. You can find lots more ideas on the Scottish Wildlife Trust website.

It’s a good idea to tell your child’s teacher that you’re talking about climate at home, particularly if your child seems worried about the future. Perhaps you can ask if the school can talk more about the issue, and get students involved in climate action. Many schools take part in programmes such as Eco-Schools.