Supporting Children and Youth
As parents, we care about our children more than anyone else in the world. And many of us are worried about how climate change will impact, and is impacting, our children’s mental health. These resources will help you build skills in talking to your kids about climate change and connecting them with the support they need.
WEBSITES AND ARTICLES
- Climate Mental Health Network: How to talk to young people about climate emotions
- Our Kids Climate: How to talk to children about the climate crisis
- Climate Psychology Alliance: The Educator’s Guide to Climate Emotions
- TED.com: How to talk honestly to kids about climate change – and still give them hope
- NPR: How to talk to your kids about climate change
- NRDC: Your guide to talking with kids of all ages about climate change
- HuffPost: You’re going to have to teach your kids about climate change. Here’s how.
- Child Mind Institute: Kids and climate anxiety
- National Geographic: Helping kids deal with climate anxiety
- On Our Sleeves: How to help kids manage anxiety
- USA Today: Amid feelings of hopelessness, some turn to ‘climate-aware’ therapists for help
BOOKS ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FOR KIDS
- You Are Unstoppable: How to Understand Your Feelings About Climate Change and Take Positive Action Together, by Megan Kennedy-Woodard and Patrick Kennedy-Williams
- Greta and the Giants, by Zoe Tucker and Zoe Persico (ages 3-7)
- Fur and Feather Stand Together, by David Griswold and Eliza Reisfeld (ages 4-8 years)
- Alicia and the Hurricane: A Story of Puerto Rico, by Leslea Newman and Elizabeth Erazo Baz (bilingual English/Spanish; ages 4-8)
- The Longest Storm, by Dan Yaccarino (ages 4-8)
- A Kids’ Book About Climate Change, by Zanagee Artis and Olivia Greenspan (ages 5+)
- We Are Water Protectors, by Carole Lindstrom and Michaela Goade (ages 5-7)
- What to Do When Climate Change Scares You: A Kid’s Guide to Dealing With Climate Change Stress, by Leslie Davenport (ages 6-12)
- Old Enough to Save the Planet, by Loll Kirby and Adelina Lirius (ages 6-12 years)
- Coco’s Fire: Changing Climate Anxiety into Climate Action, by Jeremy Wortzel and Lena Champlin (ages 7-10 years old)
- Earth Squad: 50 People Who Are Saving the Planet, by Alexandra Zissu (ages 8-12)
- Girl Warriors: How 25 Young Activists are Saving the Earth, by Rachel Sarah (ages 9-12)
- All the Feelings Under the Sun, by Leslie Davenport (ages 11+)
PODCASTS ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE FOR KIDS AND YOUTH
- But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids: What is Climate Change? (ages 4+)
- Wow in the World: Operation Earth: How to be Cool to a Planet That’s Hot (ages 5-12)
- The Big Melt: Episode One: The Tipping Points (series; ages 8-12)
- The Flossy Podcast: Climate Change and Environmental Racism (ages 14+)
- Dear Highlights: Sharing Climate Change Hope with Kids
FILMS AND VIDEOS
- Webinar: The Big Conversation: How to talk to children about the climate crisis
- TED talk: What to do when climate change feels unstoppable, by Clover Hogan
- TED talk: The eco-creators helping the climate through social media, by Zahra Biabani
Updated: April 2024