Connecting Children to Earth Day: Preparing for Climate Crisis

What does Earth Day mean to adults? It acts as a reminder to:

• Conserve the materials and energy we use

• Reduce and shift our consumption

• Respect the planet and value how it supports us

• Contribute to a global effort

• Consider the impact of our habits

But how do we communicate all that to children? And without scaring or worrying them? We examine the root of these concepts: mindfulness, responsibility, respect, community, empathy. These are all ideas you’ve already touched on with your children. But Earth Day is a perfect opportunity to expand on them, because it gets kids thinking abstractly. None of these practices will have an immediate effect they can see, and that’s the whole point. Because harmful habits don’t have an immediate effect either.

Children are only just beginning to understand that they have voices that can be heard, feet that can run, minds that can produce, bodies that can fart. So to teach such a huge, theoretical concept like Earth and all its functions and issues is really hard! I remember the first time I saw a photo of Earth from space, my mind could hardly fathom what it meant… and I was an adult.

As an adult in a child’s life, we always have to stay cognizant of relating to them on their level. It’s a little level to be sure, but it’s not a lower level. We do not have to be condescending when we speak to them, but we can’t be too complex either. We might have to go slowly in order to emphasize what we mean and we may have to repeat ourselves, but that’s not an indication of their intelligence. Remember how you just knew what was going on between people or in a situation when you were younger without being told explicitly? You might not have known it intellectually, but certainly emotionally.

So what are some ways we can communicate complex concepts like environmental conservation to children?

• Visual aids - You can get pictures from a magazine or draw something together and put it above the garbage can or the compost bin so they understand disposal practices.

• Repetition - Sometimes we feel that we repeat ourselves so much to children, as if they’re never going to learn or remember anything. But you know what? They will! Promise! It’s just that they are learning so many new things all at once. It’s like visiting a different country where nothing is familiar. You just kind of stop, with your jaw dropped, trying to recall which side of the road to drive on. That’s a young child every day. After a while, all that repetition soaks in and they’ll retain it for good.

• Explaining the effects - Don’t just say “recycling is good” and not explain why. That’s not a sustainable way of living. You will end up exhausting yourself giving instructions all the time. Explaining the Why will help them understand what they can’t see right in front of them. Saying, “We should turn off the lights when we are not in a room so we can conserve the energy the planet makes and give her a little break,” even if you know they don’t understand it all, paves the way for them to comprehend the intricacies of these concepts a little later.

• Concrete examples - Kids are most receptive to ideas they can see and touch. Show them how to creatively reuse packaging by painting a peanut butter jar and turning into a marker holder.

• Take a hike - Really immerse yourself in nature. Go outside without your phone and actively observe (and pick up some garbage while you’re at it.) Take it slow so you can look at the different flowers and leaves and wonder out loud about them. No need to try to label them right away - you might emphasize how connecting with and enjoying nature is about a personal relationship with Earth, and not always something you have to articulate.

These practices are simply laying the foundation of a further understanding of what it means to take care of the planet. They offer a child coping mechanisms, grant them introspection, emphasize their abilities and connect them to their community - all things that empower them and of course, brighten the future for all of us.