{"id":22367,"date":"2025-11-11T23:53:40","date_gmt":"2025-11-11T23:53:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/?p=22367"},"modified":"2025-11-12T00:18:15","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T00:18:15","slug":"helping-children-thrive-climate-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/helping-children-thrive-climate-change\/","title":{"rendered":"Helping children thrive through climate change:  Strategies for raising resilient youth in a warming world"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_79_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #121c4e;color:#121c4e\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #121c4e;color:#121c4e\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/helping-children-thrive-climate-change\/#Key_takeaways_for_caregivers\" >Key takeaways for caregivers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/helping-children-thrive-climate-change\/#Facing_the_reality_of_climate_change\" >Facing the reality of climate change\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/helping-children-thrive-climate-change\/#How_does_climate_change_affect_young_peoples_health_and_physical_development\" >How does climate change affect young people\u2019s health and physical development?\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/helping-children-thrive-climate-change\/#How_does_climate_change_affect_young_peoples_mental_health_and_psychological_well-being\" >How does climate change affect young people\u2019s mental health and psychological well-being?\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/helping-children-thrive-climate-change\/#Learning_from_models_of_resilience_and_positive_development\" >Learning from models of resilience and positive development\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/helping-children-thrive-climate-change\/#Three_strategies_to_promote_young_peoples_resilience_and_positive_development_amid_climate_change\" >Three strategies to promote young people\u2019s resilience and positive development amid climate change\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/helping-children-thrive-climate-change\/#Ways_to_help_young_people_cope_with_the_challenge_of_climate_change\" >Ways to help young people cope with the challenge of climate change\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/helping-children-thrive-climate-change\/#Helping_children_thrive_through_climate_change\" >Helping children thrive through climate change<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_takeaways_for_caregivers\"><\/span><strong>Key takeaways for caregivers<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Climate change will shape the lives of virtually every young person alive today\u2014no matter where they live\u2014making it crucial for families to help young people navigate both the visible and hidden effects.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Children are especially vulnerable to climate risks\u2014from heatwaves to disasters\u2014because their bodies are still developing and they need other people and community resources (e.g., schools and healthcare) to help them learn, grow, and be safe.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many children feel worried or distressed by alarming reports of climate change and related disasters.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The same strategies that help children handle other challenges may support them through climate-related problems, too.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Three main strategies can address various stages of navigating climate-related threats: reduce risks from climate change, provide access to key resources amidst a changing climate, and support recovery after disaster strikes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Families can work with children and the broader community to learn about local risks, identify steps that can help, and take action to protect themselves and others.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This blog post is based on research originally published in: Sanson, A. V., &amp; Masten, A. S. (2023).<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/10.1177\/01650254231186332\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Climate change and resilience: Developmental science perspectives.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> International Journal of Behavioral Development, 48(2), 93-102.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Facing_the_reality_of_climate_change\"><\/span><strong>Facing the reality of climate change\u00a0<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is broad scientific consensus that climate change is under way and posing serious threats to human life and well-being. Globally, the last 10 years were the<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/wmo.int\/news\/media-centre\/wmo-confirms-2024-warmest-year-record-about-155degc-above-pre-industrial-level#:~:text=The%20past%20ten%20years%202015,dead%20but%20in%20grave%20danger\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hottest decade on record<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, with temperatures in 2024 hitting 1.5\u00b0 Celsius (2.7\u00b0 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial temperatures.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_22495\" style=\"width: 2570px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22495\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22495\" src=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pexels-pixabay-51951-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1672\" srcset=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pexels-pixabay-51951-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pexels-pixabay-51951-300x196.jpg 300w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pexels-pixabay-51951-1024x669.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pexels-pixabay-51951-768x501.jpg 768w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pexels-pixabay-51951-1536x1003.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pexels-pixabay-51951-2048x1337.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pexels-pixabay-51951-356x232.jpg 356w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pexels-pixabay-51951-700x457.jpg 700w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pexels-pixabay-51951-50x33.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-22495\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/forest-on-fire-51951\/\">Pixabay<\/a> on Pexels<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Record-breaking heat waves, wildfires, hurricanes, droughts, and flooding, like the devastating flash floods in Texas in the summer of 2025 <span data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">and the catastrophic damage of Hurricane Melissa to Jamaica a few months later<\/span>, are now commonplace and cause significant suffering. At the same time,<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/en\/climatechange\/science\/causes-effects-climate-change\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">climate change is causing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> gradual changes, such as increasing levels of acid in the oceans, melting glaciers, and rising sea levels, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/en\/climatechange\/science\/causes-effects-climate-change\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">putting island and coastal communities at particular risk of harm<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This unprecedented threat of climate change raises serious questions about how caregivers can support the next generation to live healthy, safe, and happy lives despite an uncertain future.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a recent<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/01650254231186332\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">review of research on this issue<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, two of the authors of this post (Ann Sanson and Ann Masten) used frameworks from developmental science \u2013 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/10-actions-to-help-children-be-more-resilient\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">resilience and positive development<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 to identify ways to help individuals and communities cope with climate change. In this blog post, we focus on how to support children and youth from infancy to early adulthood, whom we refer to collectively as young people.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_does_climate_change_affect_young_peoples_health_and_physical_development\"><\/span><b>How does climate change affect young people\u2019s health and physical development?\u00a0<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Young people are particularly vulnerable to the<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpsyt.2021.675936\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">negative consequences of climate change.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Their less mature neural and immune systems and lower ability to detect and respond to dangers increase their risk of<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.unicef.org\/reports\/climate-crisis-child-rights-crisis\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">death and injury, diseases, respiratory conditions, and malnutrition.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Younger children depend on care and protection from adults (parents and other caregivers) who, in disasters, are likely to be stressed and preoccupied. Worse yet, these caregivers may become unavailable through climate-related death, injury, or separation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/climate-change-children\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Climate disasters also tend to be worse in lower-income countries<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which is where most young people live. In addition,<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/oxfordre.com\/naturalhazardscience\/display\/10.1093\/acrefore\/9780199389407.001.0001\/acrefore-9780199389407-e-23\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> poverty is linked to greater impacts from disasters<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which are exacerbated by lack of resources, poor health care, and inadequate nutrition.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Climate change can affect young people in obvious ways (e.g., illness, injury) and less apparent ways (e.g., disruption to community programs). When young people are caught up in climate-related disasters, they can experience both immediate and long-term impacts to their health and well-being. Disasters can have ripple effects, like destroyed homes or closed schools, that disrupt children\u2019s everyday lives and development.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_does_climate_change_affect_young_peoples_mental_health_and_psychological_well-being\"><\/span><b>How does climate change affect young people\u2019s mental health and psychological well-being?\u00a0<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Researchers have uncovered valuable information about the psychological effects of climate change. When young people experience a climate disaster, they often show symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (e.g., nightmares, intense fearfulness, irritability, intrusive memories, angry outbursts, lack of positive emotions).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They may also<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s11920-018-0896-9\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">experience grief, anger, loss of identity, feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, physical complaints, attachment disorders, increased aggression, and regressive behaviors.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> When young people experience a climate disaster, they often show symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (e.g., nightmares, intense fearfulness, irritability, intrusive memories, angry outbursts, lack of positive emotions).<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, four months after floods in Pakistan in the summer of 2010, 73% of 10- to 19-year-olds who lived in the region displayed<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/216315344_The_Prevalence_of_Post_Traumatic_Stress_Disorder_PTSD_among_Flood_Affected_School_Children_in_Pakistan\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">high levels of PTSD symptoms<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, with displaced females being the most affected. While most children exposed to a disaster recover over time, as many as a third of children showed elevated PTSD symptoms after one year, and as many as<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/jts.22242\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a quarter showed symptoms<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> two to four years later.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Climate distress and anticipating impact<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.janxdis.2020.102263\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other psychological effects<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> arise from anticipating worsening climate impacts. In our review of studies from around the world, we learned that most young people know about climate change and many report <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/children-climate-change-anxiety-positive-action\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">feelings of anxiety<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, grief, loss, anger, frustration, hopelessness, helplessness, guilt\/shame, confusion, betrayal, or a sense of abandonment, reactions collectively referred to as <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">climate distress<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a recent survey of 10,000 16- to 25-year-olds from 10 nations in both the global North and South,<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S2542519621002783?via%3Dihub\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">most youth experienced significant climate distress<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Almost 60% of these young people reported feeling \u201cvery\u201d or \u201cextremely\u201d worried about climate change; only 5% said they were not worried at all.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Learning_from_models_of_resilience_and_positive_development\"><\/span><b>Learning from models of resilience and positive development\u00a0<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Research on<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1002\/ijop.12737\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">resilience<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cambridge.org\/core\/elements\/abs\/children-and-climate-change\/B929244F274C8AB6E7E6B1E76456547D\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">positive development<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> offers helpful insights into how to protect young people\u2019s health and development from the risks of climate change. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Resilience <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">means being able to adjust and function well after a challenge. Children draw on support from their family and community, as well as their own skills, to build resilience over time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Examples of<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.guilford.com\/books\/Ordinary-Magic\/Ann-Masten\/9781462557660?srsltid=AfmBOooLWq9DdUkee10eM-MlWDvh4_7A7nt_O2yptY6UL416quyxBKjJ\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">resources that foster resilience in children<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> include:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Community resources: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">emergency and health care services; child care centers and schools; and other places where children feel safe and that they belong, are supported, and can participate in religious and cultural traditions or other activities;\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Interpersonal\/family resources: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sensitive caregiving; positive family routines; supportive relationships with family, friends, teachers, and mentors; and\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Individual resources:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> effective stress regulation; problem-solving and self-control skills; hope; a sense of belonging, purpose, or meaning; and agency.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These resources generally support <a href=\"https:\/\/www.routledge.com\/Positive-Youth-Development-in-Global-Contexts-of-Social-and-Economic-Change\/Petersen-Koller-Motti-Stefanidi-Verma\/p\/book\/9781138670815\">positive development<\/a>, and they may become<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.annualreviews.org\/content\/journals\/10.1146\/annurev-clinpsy-081219-120307\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">especially important<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> when young people are exposed to adversities, such as those resulting from climate change.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Three_strategies_to_promote_young_peoples_resilience_and_positive_development_amid_climate_change\"><\/span><b>Three strategies to promote young people\u2019s resilience and positive development amid climate change\u00a0<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Research in many countries and cultures suggests three basic ways to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.guilford.com\/books\/Ordinary-Magic\/Ann-Masten\/9781462557660\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">support healthy development in young people facing various types of adversities<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (Masten, 2025). In our work, we apply these three broad strategies to the challenges posed by climate change. We explore how these strategies suggest ways to act before, during, and after disaster strikes a community.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Strategy 1: Proactively reduce the likelihood and severity of problems from climate change\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first approach, risk reduction, aims to lessen the likelihood or lower the intensity of risks posed to young people\u2019s development and well-being. In the context of climate change, this is the most critical strategy at a global level.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To reduce the risk of massive suffering for current and future generations, humans must limit the progression of climate change by rapidly lowering<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions mainly arise from the production and use of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/pollution-children\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fossil fuels<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (coal, oil and gas) that prevent heat from escaping the earth\u2019s atmosphere. This emissions reduction is essential and requires broad societal changes, especially by corporations and governments.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>How communities can mitigate climate risks<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On a smaller scale, many strategies can be implemented at home and in local communities to lower risks of young people encountering problems from local climate change. Individuals and local communities can develop plans by learning which climate risks (e.g., flooding, wildfire) are most likely in their area and<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.undp.org\/sites\/g\/files\/zskgke326\/files\/migration\/ly\/2Disaster-Risk-Reduction---Risk-Assessment.pdf\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">identifying ways to stay safe<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-ccp-border-bottom=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-bottom=\"0px\" data-ccp-border-between=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-between=\"0px\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Involving young people in efforts to reduce the risk of disaster in age-appropriate ways can both lower risk and build their sense of <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">agency <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(the belief that they can make a difference), <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">self-efficacy<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (the belief that they can succeed on a particular task), and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/building-foundation-of-constructive-hope-for-climate-change\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hopefulness<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014all of which are key drivers of resilience.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_22567\" style=\"width: 2570px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22567\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22567\" src=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/pexels-kampus-7965827-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1709\" srcset=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/pexels-kampus-7965827-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/pexels-kampus-7965827-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/pexels-kampus-7965827-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/pexels-kampus-7965827-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/pexels-kampus-7965827-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/pexels-kampus-7965827-2048x1367.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/pexels-kampus-7965827-356x238.jpg 356w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/pexels-kampus-7965827-700x467.jpg 700w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/pexels-kampus-7965827-50x33.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-22567\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/a-girl-hugging-a-tree-7965827\/\">Kampus Production<\/a> on Pexels<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, if a family finds out they live in an area at risk of wildfires, they might remove vegetation around their house, install a sprinkler system, and prepare an evacuation plan. Young people can help with these tasks, such as by preparing a \u201cgo bag\u201d with the essentials the family would need if they had to move to a safer place.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Older youth might take responsibility for identifying what needs to be purchased, while young children could help by deciding on special snacks or toys to include in the bag. By taking steps in both the family and the broader community, families can help reduce the negative impacts of climate change on young people.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Strategy 2: Support young people during ongoing climate change\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Families can also help young people during ongoing challenges. The second approach to promoting resilience involves boosting access to resources that support young people and protect them against risks from exposure to adversity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the context of ongoing climate change, this protective strategy includes ensuring that basic needs for survival and development are met. These needs include clean water, food, medical care, and shelter, regardless of the local climate and possible future disasters.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For healthy development, children also need responsive caregiving and access to early childhood education and good schools. Parents and teachers can commit to taking the time to listen to children\u2019s concerns about climate change, and provide access to books and other materials to help them understand the local climate;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpsyt.2021.675936\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">have opportunities to appreciate nature<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> ; and learn about climate change, risk reduction, and protecting the earth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Strategy 3: After climate-related disasters, collaborate with young people to strategize recovery plans\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When disaster does strike, recovery efforts become essential for survivors. The third strategy aims to mobilize or restore support for young people after disaster strikes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is important to restore social support during these challenging times. Efforts can involve reuniting families separated during the event, establishing safe and comfortable caregiving alternatives when caregivers are lost or injured, and increasing a sense of belonging among displaced individuals in the aftermath of disasters.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-ccp-border-bottom=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-bottom=\"0px\" data-ccp-border-between=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-between=\"0px\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Listening to young people and engaging with them in activities that build agency and a sense of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1521\/psyc.2007.70.4.283\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">individual and collective efficacy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (the belief that people together can make a difference) can help counter feelings of<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1521\/psyc.2007.70.4.283\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">anxiety, helplessness, and despair<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, while also<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1017\/9781009118705\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">building problem-solving and coping capacities.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_22493\" style=\"width: 2570px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22493\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22493\" src=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pexels-artempodrez-6990599-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1440\" srcset=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pexels-artempodrez-6990599-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pexels-artempodrez-6990599-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pexels-artempodrez-6990599-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pexels-artempodrez-6990599-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pexels-artempodrez-6990599-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pexels-artempodrez-6990599-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pexels-artempodrez-6990599-356x200.jpg 356w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pexels-artempodrez-6990599-700x394.jpg 700w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pexels-artempodrez-6990599-50x28.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-22493\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/woman-in-green-long-sleeve-shirt-sitting-beside-boy-in-white-shirt-6990599\/\"> Artem Podrez<\/a> on Pexels<\/p><\/div>\n<h4><b>Restoring familiar routines<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Similarly, restoring <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full\/10.1002\/Ijop.12737\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">familiar routines<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, such as school schedules, family rituals, sports activities, and traditional cultural practices, can also convey<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full\/10.1002\/Ijop.12737\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a sense of meaning and normalcy while facing adversity.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is important to restore social support during these challenging times.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, after schools in a community have been devastated by a hurricane, a coordinated response by government agencies and non-governmental organizations could quickly establish <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/plan-international.org\/emergencies\/child-friendly-spaces\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">child-friendly spaces<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> where young children can feel safe, adolescents are invited to organize activities, and parents can share their experiences and plans for the future.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ways_to_help_young_people_cope_with_the_challenge_of_climate_change\"><\/span><b>Ways to help young people cope with the challenge of climate change\u00a0<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The following suggestions are ways caregivers can use these three strategies to help young people manage amid climate change. Caregivers can:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Minimize the likelihood that young people will experience climate disasters through individual and collective efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (e.g., shifting toward a more plant-based diet, voting for politicians who support climate action).\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Identify sources of potential harm to neighborhoods and encourage community action to prevent or prepare for likely disasters.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensure that homes, schools, playgrounds, and other spaces where young people spend time are designed (or updated) to withstand anticipated climate change, as much as possible.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Find out together where to go in an emergency (e.g., shelters, clinics) and help young people feel prepared, not panicked.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Demonstrate caring about the planet by modeling related actions, such as biking to school, growing vegetables, or talking about your hopes for a healthier world. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Talk to young people about climate change:\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Find out what they know and how they feel.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If they express worry or other negative emotions, validate them while also providing realistic reassurance (e.g., \u201cI can understand why you are worried, it is a big problem. It helps me if I think about what I can do to help, and about all the people around the world trying to address this problem\u201d).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Discuss local risks with young people, and build their sense of agency by identifying actions they can take alone, actions that can be taken as a family, and actions they can take with others (e.g., turning off the lights when leaving a room, recycling, planting flowers for bees and butterflies, and advocating for protective policy changes).\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Build young people\u2019s sense of hope. Be clear and realistic. Young children may find it helpful to know that many adults are working on these issues. Older children may be interested in specific information about what scientists and organizations are doing to protect the planet.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Encourage older children to join other young people in their climate actions, which is likely to be more fun, as well as<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/17405629.2022.2108396\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">more educational and effective<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. They may also want to know about how youth around the world are joining in efforts to persuade policymakers and decision makers to take action for the climate.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Older children may also appreciate reminders that \u201cwe have solved big problems before\u201d with examples they can relate to (e.g., abolishing slavery, rebuilding communities after wildfires and hurricanes, reducing the use of pesticides that kill birds), noting the importance of many people coming together to demand change.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If a climate-related disaster strikes, restore a sense of safety, security, and belonging:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reconnect (or build new relationships) with neighbors, teachers, or places young people know and love.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bring back comforting routines (e.g., bedtime stories, family meals, walks to school) as much as possible.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Give young people an important role to play in recovery and reconstruction (e.g.,\u00a0 helping with cleanups or food deliveries to those in need).\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Helping_children_thrive_through_climate_change\"><\/span><b>Helping children thrive through climate change<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Climate change poses serious risks to young people\u2019s well-being. By modeling care, building agency, and working together before, during, and after climate-related challenges, caregivers can support their young children\u2019s resilience.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Together, families can face the climate crisis not just with worry, but with wisdom, strength, and hope.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key takeaways for caregivers Climate change will shape the lives of virtually every young person alive today\u2014no matter where they live\u2014making it crucial for families to help young people navigate both the visible and hidden effects. Children are especially vulnerable to climate risks\u2014from heatwaves to disasters\u2014because their bodies are still developing and they need other [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":360,"featured_media":22492,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22367"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/360"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22367"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22367\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22584,"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22367\/revisions\/22584"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22492"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22367"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22367"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22367"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}