Here's how you can help children who are coming of age in the climate crisis
No one wants to witness their child in fear, but the reality is that ‘eco anxiety’ is an everyday occurrence for the young people who are growing up during a climate crisis. They’re witnessing unprecedented levels of climate destruction, from increased local flooding to wildfires, and endless news reports on the impact of rising temperatures across the globe.
This sense of urgency has reached new levels lately, with a recent YouGov survey of more than 600 children, commissioned by Greenpeace UK, indicating that worries about climate change are widespread among primary school children, with 78% saying they’re worried about it, and more than a quarter (27%) feeling ‘very worried’.
What is eco anxiety?
The American Psychological Association defines eco anxiety as the ‘chronic fear of environmental doom’. Symptoms include persistent feelings of sadness, fear, anger, helplessness, and guilt. Children may experience nervousness or sleep issues, as well as despair, grief, and powerlessness. It can affect daily functioning and lead to pessimistic views about the future, with many young people believing humanity has failed the planet, and that they won’t enjoy the same opportunities as previous generations, creating an overall sense of insecurity about the future.
Understandably, many parents or caregivers feel ill-equipped to broach this subject with children, but there are ways to support them. Here’s how to get started:
Acknowledge their experience
As adults, we instinctively want to protect children from fear or worry, so it’s only natural that you may have avoided having conversations with them about their emotions around climate change. But dismissing their thoughts and feelings around the topic (even if that minimising is well-intentioned), or avoiding it altogether, has the potential to do more harm than good. Studies among children, such as 2021 research) in The Lancet Planetary Health, show that they often experience eco anxiety with an additional layer of confusion, betrayal, and abandonment as a result of adult inaction towards the problem. Taking steps to help children build emotional resilience around the topic is one way to prepare them. This means creating an environment where they feel comfortable opening up about their feelings. It’s not about having all the answers or giving them false hope – instead, try to stay neutral and reassuring, while remaining curious about how you can take action together.
Avoid pathologising their concerns
The term ‘eco anxiety’ can make kids think that they have a mental illness that needs to be fixed, which can further isolate the individual, and make them feel like they don’t belong. Instead of trying to constantly soothe or stamp out their feelings of worry, try to be there in the worry with them, and say something like: “I’m sorry that you’re feeling this way, but I am also very proud of how much you care about our environment.” It can then be helpful, depending on age, to use this sentiment and redirect it to self-care in order to find a sense of calm and compassion.
Highlight climate wins
While it’s not advisable to downplay the seriousness of the ongoing climate crisis, there is value in recognising all the ways that communities and organisations are working to successfully address pressing issues. Try not to present these as an alternative argument to the child’s emotional experience, but instead, make it a point to show them any positive news stories or projects that are making a difference as well. This can help them understand that something can be done about climate change, and that lots of people are working hard to make it happen.
Take action together
Listening to the worries they have about climate change can be tough for both of you, but in opening up the discussion, you not only validate their concerns, but also have the opportunity to consider what action you might take together.
According to a 2022 paper, published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, this form of ‘practical eco-anxiety’ can be a deeply valuable emotional response that can support both individual and collective wellbeing. This could be choosing a charity to donate to every month, addressing your use of single-use plastics in the home, or writing a letter to your MP to voice your concerns. This can help children shift from a state of helplessness to empowerment, guided by a sense of purpose that is rooted in their personal values. It can also be helpful to gamify their actions, for example, by challenging them to find 10 ways that the family can use less water, and celebrating together when they reach their goal.
In the face of climate change, no one has all the answers, and no one person has the power to reverse the damage. But by validating a child’s concerns, offering reassurance, and holding their hand as they navigate the path ahead, we can at least try to maintain a sense of wellbeing on the journey.
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