Climate change: Five positive actions you can take with your kids

A recent survey by charity Save the Children found that 60% of children aged 12 to 18 think climate change and inequality are affecting their generation’s mental health. In addition, seven out of ten children surveyed said they’re worried about the world they will inherit.

In a separate survey by the Woodland Trust, 20% of young people aged 16 to 24 said they would be willing to have fewer children than they would like, to address climate change. Meanwhile 'climate anxiety' is a growing term for internet searches.

So, as parents, what can we do to work with our children to address their concerns around the environment, and take steps to improve our impact? BBC Bitesize Parents’ Toolkit has put together a list of positive actions you can take together with your family.

1. Take small steps to make big changes

Sacha Wright from climate action group Force of Nature says: “The most important thing that we can do, to break the cycle of climate anxiety, is to take action. Every time we take action, we make changes both external and internal that disrupt the self-fulfilling prophecy of powerlessness.”

If you’re unsure where to start, embrace the mantra ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’. The organisation Zero Waste Week UK explains that whilst recycling is positive, it uses less energy if you reuse items, or reduce the amount you buy in the first place.

Items you could reuse (or reduce) in your house include:

• plastic and tote bags
• bottles for water or shampoo
• coffee and jam jars
• margarine and ice cream containers
• postal and delivery bags and boxes
• old clothes (can be turned into dishcloths, dusters or hair scrunchies, for example)

Many local stores now offer a refillable option for things like cleaning products, laundry liquid, soaps and shampoos. You can search online for creative ways to upcycle old clothes and cushions. Or if your children have grown out of things, make sure you pass them on to other parents or charities.

You can also support your child to campaign about something they’re passionate about. Peter Littlewood, director of Young People’s Trust for the Environment (YPTE), says: “A young person who presents a well-researched and reasoned argument is difficult for an MP or business to ignore. Encourage them to ask the difficult questions that politicians and companies don’t want to answer… The answers, from a grown-up’s perspective, can be complex and nuanced, but a child is often able to cut through all of that to see the simple truth.”

Check out what environmental and campaigning groups are operating in your area too.

2. Enjoy nature together

Peter Littlewood says: “Just providing your child with the opportunity to visit some wild spaces can help to foster a love of nature.” This doesn’t have to cost anything, and can be in your local park or countryside. Follow up any interest your child shows in plants or creatures like ladybirds or woodlice with pictures or books. You could create a woodpile or install some nest boxes or a bird table if you have space. Check if there are forest schools or wildlife groups operating locally too. Larger charities like the RSPB also run events like the Big Garden Birdwatch, which you can join in with from your kitchen window.

Peter confirms: “By encouraging a love of the outdoors and natural spaces, you’re helping to create a passionate young environmentalist. If they love and understand the natural world, they are likely to want to protect it.”

Naturalist and TV Presenter Megan McCubbin has some tips for exploring local wildlife here.

3. Reduce food waste

According to charity ‘WRAP’, businesses and households in the UK waste around 9.5 million tonnes of food each year, enough to feed the entire UK population three meals a day for 11 weeks. As a family, you can reduce food waste through buying less, checking use-by dates, batch cooking, making soups and broths with leftovers, freezing or composting food.

This BBC Bitesize guide for children is all about food waste. And BBC Food has this selection of food waste recipes for leftovers.

Food production also accounts for over a third of emissions globally, so think about the distance your food has travelled and try to eat produce that’s in season. Peter Littlewood from YPTE says: “Buying British strawberries in January is likely to increase your carbon footprint, because they’ll have to be grown in heated greenhouses, which causes greenhouse gas emissions.” The use of animals for meat also causes twice the pollution of producing plant-based foods, according to a 2021 study, so consider eating less meat as a family.

4. Spend your money wisely

According to campaign group Make My Money Matter, investing in a green pension is one of the most effective ways you can cut your carbon. Check where your pension has invested its funds, as many still have exposure to fossil fuels, and switch if you need to. You could also choose a bank that supports sustainable initiatives.

Peter suggests that, as well as buying recycled or pre-owned goods, buying sustainable or better quality clothes or white goods will save you money in the long run, because they’ll last longer. Purchase reusable water bottles, and consider having a holiday in the UK instead of flying abroad.

You can also support suppliers who sell things like wonky fruit and veg, which reduces food waste. Peter adds: “If you have the space available, think about growing your own vegetables. It saves money and can be really satisfying.” Or you could consider getting an allotment if you have the time to look after one properly.

5. Consider your household emissions

The biggest emissions from households are related to travel, according to ONS data. Making small changes to your mode of transport can have an impact on your household’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Swap out a short journey to the shops or school in the car with walking or cycling, or take the bus for a longer journey. If you have the budget, think about zero emissions or plug-in vehicles.

Flats and houses come with an energy performance certificate (EPC) which you can look at. These provide recommendations on energy efficiency improvements such as:

• loft insulation
• cavity wall insulation
• underfloor insulation
• double glazing
• upgrading boilers

If you’re renting, you have the legal right to request consent from your landlord to install efficiency improvements. In England, Scotland and Wales, under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), energy suppliers must install energy efficiency measures in the homes of the people who need them most. Speak to your energy supplier or your local authority. The UK Government website also has advice on financial support or how you can save energy at home.

Finally, don’t forget to encourage your child to turn the lights off when they leave a room, and leave electrical items unplugged when they’re not charging!

Some further reading on dealing with climate anxiety:

BBC Bitesize has the Regenerators - a collection of positive climate related articles, which can help understand the broader picture.

Mental health charity YoungMinds have a blogpost on coping with climate anxiety.

Childline also offer support on dealing with worries about climate change.