Health
Helping kids with ecoanxiety By Angela Terry Growing up in a time of climate crisis is not easy. Images of deforestation, melting glaciers and out-of-control wildfires seem everywhere. The scale and severity of the situation is difficult for adults to comprehend. Naturally, children can find it overwhelming. Eco-anxiety is increasingly prevalent amongst our kids. Research by Bath University shows that sixty percent of children and young people describe themselves as ‘very or extremely worried’ about climate change. As a mum and environmental scientist, I am well aware of the difficulties of talking to children about this subject. The temptation is to tell them not to worry. But actually this will add to their genuine concern that this issue is being ignored by the ‘grown-ups.’ Focus instead on positive solutions. Here are my tips: Remind children that together we can change the world Taking everyday actions can empower kids. Like eating less meat or snuggling under a blanket instead of turning up the thermostat. But remind them that it’s practically impossible to live a completely sustainable life. The world needs lots of people doing sustainability imperfectly, rather than a few doing it perfectly. Point them to less frightening online resources Exposure to gloomy predictions online can affect children’s moods. Make sure they are looking at websites that talk about climate change in an unthreatening way without a barrage of scary statistics. NASA’s Climate Kids website has been designed specifically for children and has a wide range of resources,
including videos and games. Make green spending decisions jointly Discuss with your children which products your family buys. There are sustainable alternatives for everything, from food and fashion to cars and bank accounts. If the green alternative is more expensive, ask your children if they would be happy to go without something to pay for it. This allows them to understand the power of purchasing. Help children join or start a group with friends Joining climate-focused community and action groups can be of huge benefit to children with feelings of anxiety, helplessness and despair. The sense of shared belonging and concern can be very comforting. Working towards tangible solutions with others gives kids a greater sense of control. Angela Terry is an environmental scientist and mum of three. She’s the founder of One Home (www.onehome.org.uk), the UK’s first consumer climate action hub which provides independent, practical advice on the changes you can make to help fight global warming and adapt to climate change.
Discussing climate change
Practical things to do
As a parent your first instinct is to protect your kids but it’s not helpful to tell them not to concern themselves with climate change. Worrying about this huge problem is entirely normal. Here are some suggestions for handling those tricky conversations:
One of the best ways to help children feel better about the climate emergency is to empower them to do something about it. It can be as simple as encouraging them to walk to school instead of being driven. Here are some activity ideas for the whole family:
Listen to your child’s worries and acknowledge them. Don’t dismiss them out-of-hand. Empathise. Show you’re concerned too. But don’t focus on doomsday scenarios. There is no cliff edge. Point out they’re not alone. Talk about all the people who are also worried and striving to effect change. Check out Instagram accounts which offer a solutions-based outlook like @thegreenhub @ ouronehome @lowimpactmovement Empower without making them feel overly responsible. Tell them we all have a role to play in addressing this issue – but it’s not all on them. Point out positive climate news stories whenever you come across them. Teach anxiety regulation techniques, like breathing and mindfulness.
Rewild your garden. Set up a bug hotel. Start growing vegetables. Replace some of your lawn with wildflowers. Make low-carbon meals based around local fruit and vegetables from a farmer’s market, if possible (or even produce you’ve grown yourselves!) Take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch (www.rspb.org.uk), the Great British Spring Clean (www.keepbritaintidy.org) or Earth Day (www.earthday.org). Fundraise for a green charity by organising a low-carbon bake sale or doing a sponsored walk. Craft homemade birthday and Christmas presents for loved ones. Shut curtains and blinds from dusk until dawn to keep the heat in (and energy bills low). Write to your MP and explain why you are concerned about climate change.
editor@FamiliesWest.co.uk
Families West London
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