The Green Parent

Have you had “the talk” with your kids yet?

No, not that talk (whew!)

The other talk…about global warming.

Unless they have absolutely no contact with the outside world, it’s likely that your kids have heard about global warming by now.  Not only is it a frequent topic on the news and in adult conversations, but it is also a common theme in the music, movies, and video games geared toward kids.  So there’s no point ignoring it.  If your kids are concerned about global warming, maybe it’s time you had “the talk.”  Here are some tips to get you started.

You Know Your Kid.

There are lots of different ways that you can approach the topic of global warming.  But when it comes down to it, you know your child better than anyone else.  If your child gets frightened easily, then take fear off the table by focusing on all of the efforts that people around the world are making to prevent the problem.  If she’s a budding scientist, like my eldest is, explain the issue from a scientific perspective, “Human activities like driving create gases that are trapped in the atmosphere and make the planet warmer.  We need to walk (or ride, or take public transport) whenever possible to keep those gases at a minimum.” The bottom line is that you should keep the conversation age and personality appropriate for your child.  

Focus On Solutions.

Keep the conversation positive by focusing on the worldwide efforts that are underway to halt global warming.  If your child is afraid, acknowledge those fears, but make sure he understands that lots of people are working hard to solve the problem.  Provide opportunities for your child to become part of those solutions at home.

Give Them The Power.

Talk to your kids about all of the things that they can do to prevent global warming.  Riding their bikes, planting trees, recycling, buying less stuff…these are all efforts that your child can make to reduce her impact on the environment.  If she’s concerned about global warming, be sure she knows she has the power to stop it.

Listen.

When it comes to talking about global warming, let your kids guide the conversation and be sure that you listen to what they have to say. Don’t overload your child with details if he just has a passing interest in the subject.  Even if your passionate about the subject, just give him enough info to pique his curiosity and know that he’ll probably ask more questions at another time.  If he asks questions…answer them.  And if you need to, brush up on the answers to or give yourself a climate change primer at to make sure you’ve got your info straight.

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