It’s important that we have conversations with young people about climate change. They’re the future and they will be the most impacted by climate change throughout their lifetimes. Having a good understanding of climate change from a young age can help them make choices that will support them to gain the skills and experiences needed to tackle climate issues when they’re older. These conversations will also help address feelings of eco-anxiety, which we know many young people face.

To support you in having conversations about climate change with the young people in your life we’ve collected a number of free resources that we recommend checking out. Many come with questions, examples, and activities to help you in your conversations.

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• Climate Outreach: Talking Climate Handbook
  This handbook contains general advice on how to have conversations about climate, with more specific advice too on talking about climate to young people
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• UNICEF: Talking to Your Child About Climate Change
  Six simple steps to talking about climate change with young children
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• BBC Women’s Hour: How do You Talk to Children and Young People About Climate Change?
  Advice from eco activist Ella Mann and climate change psychotherapist Caroline Hickman on engaging young people on climate
  
  
• NRDC: Your Guide to Talking with Kids of All Ages About Climate Change
  This guide provides resources to help engage young people of different age groups on climate change
  
  
• TED: How to Talk Honestly to Kids About Climate Change and Still Give Them Hope
  Four tips about how to have constructive climate conversations with your own children, from two mothers/climate scientists
  
  
• Wired: How to Talk to Children About Climate Change
  A guide to engage young people of different age groups on climate change, including sample phrases to help in your conversations
  
  
• Teach the Parent: A Guide to Teach the Parent
  A guide for young people to help engage their parents on climate change issues –this is also helpful to be used the other way around too!

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And remember, engaging young people in climate change doesn’t have to just take the form of a conversation. Take them out into nature, buy them gifts that encourage exploration and curiosity about the world around them, read them a book with climate and nature themes…however you can best relate climate to the young people in your life!