What age can you talk to your kids about the climate crisis?

You can talk to your kids about the climate crisis at any age. However, there are age-appropriate ways to do this. You know your child best and can determine what they can comfortably comprehend and engage with.

Below are some examples to guide you in the conversations you have and actions you take with your kids.

“To protect anything, you first have to love it. To love anything, you first must get to know it.”

— Richard Louv

How to Talk to Your Kids about the Climate Crisis

By Age Groups

  • Babies & Toddlers

    All you need to do is get them outside enjoying nature. Expose them daily to trees, plants, water, and all types of weather. Focus on the positives: nature is beautiful.

    Examples include:

    • Be in nature often (join 1000 Hours Outside)

    • Slow down- let them take the lead and explore

    • Splash in puddles

    • Get your littles on a bike

    • Care for animals

  • Elementary Ages

    Focus on loving nature. You do not need to get into the bad stuff about the climate crisis. David Sobel, author of Beyond Ecophobia, recommends “No tragedies before 4th grade.” They cannot comprehend big environmental tragedies. Continue to learn about the natural world and explore it too. This age you can teach them about renewable energy, clean energy, and climate science.

    Examples include:

    • Go on a hike- explore and learn about plants and animals and how to take care of them

    • Plant a garden

    • Talk about composting food, walking and biking more and the 4 R’s (refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle)

    • Show them how wind turbines and solar panels work and why they are good for our environment

    • Research other kids caring for the earth

  • Middle School/Junior High

    This age can hear: Humans are causing climate to change. And they can learn more about the science behind it. With this information, there also needs to be examples of people who have created solutions to fix it, actions that students can take and an attitude of hope. “Help your child come up with creative ways to advance sustainability practices that build on their personal passions.” Page 114 from How to Talk to Your Kids about Climate Change.

    Examples include:

    • Talk about and research how adults are finding solutions and opportunities for hope

    • Connect with Nature - go for a walk together

    • Point to young activist leaders for inspiration

    • Let them lead- get them to rally their friends to join them in a garbage collection

    • Use their passions for climate actions

  • High School/Young Adults

    Be honest and share what is happening; we are in a climate crisis. They can take responsibility and work on personal and collective action. What can they do? How are they feeling? Climate Mental Health Network is a great resource if your older kid is having a hard time with the climate crisis.

    Examples include:

    • Share how your vote matters

    • Learn together about the solutions and communities that are rallying together in climate hope

    • Reminder- to learn, read, and act - need to do this in community, not alone.

    • Connect with Nature- go for a walk, hike, bike ride

Climate Hope in Action