At what age are children ready to learn about global warming?

Question

How can it effect their choices so early in life?

Answer 1

Children are capable of much much more than our society typically gives them credit for. Children are ready to learn about responsibility and the environment from the moment they listen to you. It is never too early to teach children how to behave, not just socially on the small scale, but ecologically. Teaching responsibility is key to early development, neglecting that until 12 or 13 (yikes) is what will produce a new generation of people unable to solve the same old problems.

Answer 2

In schools, the concept should be introduced when learning about how energy cycles round an ecosystem (about 12-13 in my school) and shown as what it is - a natural and man made consequence of more CO2 in the atmosphere.

As with a most things in learning, it's important to be as honest and truthful with kids as you can, and it is also important to share knowledge in a way which doesn't unduly frighten. It is a hard subject to teach.

From a non science standpoint, it could be fine as young as say six to say "lots of people think the world is getting warmer every year, because of the things people do and how nature works" which is true and not threatening.

You could also share at a young age things like "lots of people think the planet getting hotter isn't a very good thing".

It is down to parents to work out how to share and when, nobody knows your child better than you do. Often you may be prompted for information by the child who has heard something on the radio, read it online, seen it on TV.

How can it affect their choices?

The child may request a walk or a bike ride rather than a car trip, may get interested in alternative energy and build a windmill, or help set up a solar collector. It can be a great source of inspiration and experimentation to play with ideas and build stuff. They may well inspire some "greener living" in your life, and they may forge a deeper connection with their environment.

In summary:

From an school/education perspective, global warming should (and in most places does) form a part of the science curriculum.

From a parental perspective, you know your child best. Be honest and truthful, inform don't scare. Use your judgment.

It can affect a child's choices and experiences in a very positive way if you teach them in a positive and constructive way. Especially when they believe they are making a difference, even if it is only a small one.

Answer 3

Children are ready to learn about global warming when they can walk without falling. Then you can teach them just the small but yet important thing. Like they must throw rubbish to the rubbish bin, not to the floor or somewhere else. Try to tell them why they have to do it with simple kind of words. Little things like that will be his/her own habit after he/she has grown up and when they're getting older, tries to tell them about global warming step by step. According to their age and thought. And they're aware already about the global warming. Right?

Answer 4

They should learn about it when they learn about the Easter Bunny and Santa Clause.

Seriously, global warming will be a non-issue in 2 years.

Answer 5

because of the fact they desperate, incorrectly i think of, that letting one area physique the finished debate together as you take a seat on the sidelines saying there is not any difficulty is undesirable coverage. however the IPCC won't be able to kind previous temperature, no longer to show destiny climate. None of their dire predictions has yet to return authentic. Their concept won't be able to clarify cooling placed up-WWII or the present cooling, or why CO2 tiers path temp in all temp archives and has been 20 situations bigger than at recent with temp purely 7C warmer. they actually could refuse to play ball with the IPCC and their employed weapons. Will you nonetheless be yelling approximately AGW after the ice age returns? What could it take so which you will contemplate the possibility that your puppy concept is inaccurate and fatally incorrect and continuously has been? Why is each typhoon blamed on AGW, or because it relatively is now referred to as, climate substitute? what's next? Volcanoes as a results of AGW? Earthquakes? Meteor strikes? some years subsequently whilst the hysteria dies down it's going to be too previous due if we've surrendered our sovereignty to the vegetables of the international, to the UN and to potential-grabbing politicians. even though, because of the fact that all climate substitute, jointly with cooling, is now as a results of AGW, they desire by no skill admit they have been incorrect.

Answer 6

I agree with Larry. When they bring it up, only answer the question as it is asked. Just give them one little bit of information and gloss over the rest. The questions will keep coming, and as their age and sophistication increase so can the depth of your answers. Think about John Dunbar in Dances with Wolves. He never answered the question until the very end when they were parting ways. How many white people will be coming? Like stars in the sky.

Answer 7

Kinder garden is when we should begin environmental awareness with kids
and we will end up with a much more responsible society ,when it comes to out Natural resources .
Not just global warming but everything ,Pollution
deforesting ,animals conservation,
water shortage ,desertification etc.

Answer 8

At any age. It's a very real event and the children are the future. You don't have to be a scientist to explain it. "Pollution hurts the environment and makes the earth sick. When the earth gets sick, it makes the weather bad." You can explain it in the simplest of terms. And the earlier they learn, the more likely they'll get into the habit of being "green"

Answer 9

12 or 13.

Answer 10

Never too young.

Young children will generally believe whatever they are told by a parent or teacher without question.

If they are taught something and believe it completely, then later decide that what they were taught wasn't entirely accurate, this is also a useful lesson. Experience is a good teacher.