How to Talk to a Child About Global Warming

The idea of introducing the concept of global warming to young children has been generally ignored as though this will make the unpleasant truth go away. We, perhaps, rightly assume we will approach the subject gently, if at all. But with polar bears heading toward the endangered species list, and their heartbreaking images everywhere you look, the topic is more and more likely to arise. Try these tips when discussing the problem with the innocent, curious, animal-loving child.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Library or Internet access (optional)
• Globe (optional)

How to Talk to a Child About Global Warming

1. Approach the topic of global warming gently. Facts need to be simplified. For a preschool through lower elementary child's level of understanding, depending on the individual, you may wish to confirm that yes, polar bears are having trouble finding ice to land on and are having to swim a long time in water instead. This can affect their ability to survive and find food. They might also think about penguins having the same problem of living on ever-shrinking ice sheets or icebergs. Kids can relate to ice or a popsicle melting.

2. Define the term habitat, if needed, to make this conversation easier when describing how these animals' habitats are changing. The place where an animal lives is its habitat. Point out the Arctic and Antarctic poles on a globe. And despite the cartoons, explain that polar bears live only in the Arctic and penguins live only in the Antarctic. They don't exist in the same habitat. Yet both are facing serious challenges.

3. Discuss causes gently as well. Yes, car exhaust can contribute to this warming and yes, Americans lead in energy use per person. This is why we need to do our best to bus, bike or walk, or at least, use an energy-efficient car or live closer to work. We also need to save energy in other ways in the home.

4. Immediately connect the problem to action we can take. Children don't want to feel helpless or depressed. We can recycle, reduce and reuse every day. Even skipping a new toy or some new clothes, or purchasing pre-owned items can help. Encourage cloth napkins and other substitutions for paper products. Composting can also reduce a family's waste. Focus on things that you do or will try to do as a family.

5. Extend your action to the public. Help your child to start an Eco or Green Club at the school to raise awareness and take action. She might organize a "walking school bus" which can also help combat the childhood obesity epidemic. He can make posters on issues from saving the rainforest or the Antarctic, to carpooling or avoiding consumer packaging, or even invite a guest speaker to the school.

6. Adopt. At school or at home, organizations with Internet websites can help a class or family to "adopt" a polar bear or penguin and apply the donation toward environmental causes. Donations to conservation groups such as the Sierra Club can also serve as concrete action.

Tips & Warnings

• Answer questions as well as you can, or research answers on the Internet or in books with your child.
• Avoid "doom and gloom" or hopeless scenarios or statistics. These will be unproductive.

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