How to talk to children about climate change: ‘We cannot hide or avoid difficult topics’ – The National

How to talk to children about climate change: ‘We cannot hide or avoid difficult topics’ – The National

With the United Nations’ Cop26 in full swing in Glasgow, attended by heads of state including a UAE delegation led by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, as well as US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, climate change is dominating global headlines.

The sheer scale of coverage and the agreements decided upon at the conference has meant it is impossible for anyone, including young people, to avoid being confronted with stark facts about climate change. An outcome, experts are agreed, that's a good thing as long as parents help children process the information and messages.

When shielding children from certain aspects of the adult world, parents are aware there are many things young people shouldn’t be exposed to until they are older. The current and future state of the planet on which they live isn’t one of them, however. With the right tools, conversational techniques and leading by example, parents can teach and discuss climate change with their children in ways they not only understand, but can proactively react and respond to.