A comeback from my 5-year-old granddaughter on a recent camping trip to the Smoky Mountains National Park when I asked her to pick up any trash in and around our campsite. I was so pleasantly pleased (and a little surprised) by her reply. It felt good that either her parents or teachers had spoken to her about the importance of being a good steward of our planet.

Although these teachings are simple right now, I hope I'm not alone in wanting to talk to our children and grandchildren about human-caused climate change. About 45 percent of parents say they’ve discussed climate change with their children, according to an April 2019 NPR poll. But the discussion can be complicated for those who want to teach their kids about the climate crisis without confusing or scaring them.

Experts, from scientists and educators to climate activists, agree that the conversation is difficult. But parents and grandparents shouldn’t dodge it.

Talk to Your Kids on Their Level

Because my grandchild is only 5, I wanted to address climate change in a simple way, like why Joan and recycle and why it’s important to not waste food. The day we hiked on our Smoky Mountain trip, I pointed to the squirrels gathering nuts to start a discussion about how animal populations are changing. But our conversations — right now, at least — are straightforward, and I told her the squirrel was only gathering what she and her family needed for the coming winter.

Most of the time, I only talk to my grandchild about climate when the opportunity arises or she asks about it. I figure that's enough for a 5-year-old. I wouldn’t open up a whole long drawn-out talk about climate education to a kid under 6.

For example, an explanation to a question like “What is climate change?” can be as simple as saying that pollution goes into the air and acts like a blanket around the planet, which makes it hotter. 

I think it’s important to listen to her too and address her concerns. Like she worries about her house catching on fire or not being able to take Penny (the family dog) with them if they need to evacuate.

I'm assuming as she gets older the (say 7 to 11) the conversation will change because the conversations at school or home will change.

Understand what the kids are asking and what they know before you start the discussion. You don't want to start talking about the chemical composition of seawater and sea-level rise when a 5-year-old just wants to understand why the planet is getting hot.

Right now, 20 state departments of education have adopted Next Generation Science Standards, which include guidelines for teaching about human-caused climate change. Depending on the school, either the state or school district enforces these guidelines. Each has its own way of testing to hold schools accountable. States like Minnesota have adopted different (but similar) standards that also require teaching about climate change.

Even so, only about 42 percent of educators in the U.S. actually teach the subject in classrooms, according to the NPR poll. But more than 80 percent of parents and 86 percent of teachers support lessons on human-caused climate change in school curriculum, according to the survey.

For now I'm going to leave the conversation here. I believe my job is to continue to read and listen to the scientists on human-caused climate change so that as my granddaughter ages, I will feel comfortable having this important discussion with her (and her younger sister too).

Tight Lines,

Troy