enjoying the outdoors together as a family
can help kids feel more comfortable with
the environment.

“Spend more time in nature. It’s not only
proven to soothe, it can teach kids that they’re
a part of nature,” says Katy Bowman, author of
“Grow Wild: The Whole-Child, Whole-Family,
Nature-Rich Guide to Moving More.”
“Walking the same nature path with
kids over the
course of time
helps them
understand how
seasons and
time changes
things. Talk
about those
changes like
where a tree’s
fallen but life
continues to
spring around
it. Show them
how simple it
can be to take action
— and that their actions matter,” she says.

Bowman, a biomechanist who studies
human movement and how it relates to health
and human development, believes parents
should focus on helping kids recognize what
they can do about climate change as opposed
to what they can’t.

“Many families teach their kids recycling
and forgo single-use water bottles for reusable
ones. Just don’t stop there,” says Bowman.

“Our kids host an annual clothing swap with
all of their friends and we adults have our
own too. Learn to sew or at least repair and
patch otherwise perfectly fine clothes. Start or
join a community garden or grow something,
just to remind yourself how. Take a weekly
walk to gather trash from your neighborhood
or favorite green space. Don’t place more
emphasis on the problem than the many
opportunities that can be taken by all of us
each day to improve the situation.”
Duffy and her son are embracing
those opportunities to take action in
achievable ways.

“We made a plan to reduce the carbon
footprint of our family which included
composting, changing all our lights to LED
bulbs and installing solar panels on our roof,”
Duffy says. “We also made a commitment, as a
family, to immediately reduce and eventually
eliminate the use of plastic in our everyday
lives. The way we got to this plan was to list
out all the ways in which we contribute to the
emission of carbon.”
And when Duffy’s son feels like he’s “too
small and just a kid,” they discuss “how one
“Ask your children
what they know and
what about
climate change
matters to them.”
20 Washington FAMILY APRIL 2021
Talking to Kids
about Climate Change
Climate change is a complicated subject
and can cause anxiety and fear among
adults as well as children. So, what should
parents do to help alleviate that worry?
Not being afraid to discuss the issue with
our kids is the first step.

1. Lean into the abstract concept but
let kids determine the pace. Follow
your child’s lead and truthfully answer
any questions without giving away
information that hasn’t been asked.

2. Explain the process around our carbon
footprint or how single-use plastic can
harm the environment before talking
about the bigger problem of climate
change. As parents, we need to resist
the urge to spill all the beans right
away. Not because we need to hide
information from our kids, but because
we need to respect their processing
speed and ability.

3. Look for stories and books that inform
children about ways they can help and
show respect for our planet. Explore
climate change together and look at
trusted sources like NASA and National
Geographic. 4. Let the kids explore their interests and
try out their suggestions. There is a
good chance they’ll do research on their
ideas and feel empowered to take on an
issue that can feel scary.

person can have an enormous effect.”
“We remember that while climate change
is very real, and has potentially devastating
repercussions, in this very moment we are
in fact safe,” she says. “We are also not at a
point of no return yet. This means we have
the opportunity to act, and we can try to feel
grateful that we can make an impact.” n
MUSTAFAHACALAKI / DIGITALVISION VECTORST
“We ask what our anxiety is trying to tell us,
which requires patience because more often
than not, we don’t know,” Duffy explains.

“Possible messages that anxiety sends us are
a warning or an alarm to protect us from a
perceived threat. In the case of climate change,
that would be an appropriate message.”
With extreme weather events like the
California wildfires and Winter Storm
Uri in Texas, it’s
understandable that children like
Duffy’s son will have
concerns about the
current state of the
environment. “Kids want to
know what they
can do,” says Laura
Flusche, executive
director at Museum
of Design Atlanta.

“They want to
know if it’s too
late or if we can reverse
climate change. And they want to know why
adults aren’t doing more and how we got into
this situation. They’re also really interested in
learning about out-of-the-box solutions and
using their own skills to explore ways to make
a positive impact.”
Through online classes, camps and clubs
housed on the Sawyer platform, an online
marketplace of learning activities, MODA offers
a variety of educational opportunities for kids
around the country interested in knowing more
about climate change and the environment.

“MODA believes that the most important
thing we can do is empower children to turn
their passions into actions,” Flusche says. “We
have a special initiative underway called The
Climate & Change Project, by which we are
teaching, celebrating and advocating for the
power of design to make a difference in the
fight against climate change, and our Earth
Guardians Club invites kids to join bi-monthly
meetings with other young climate activists
to discuss issues and develop and implement
action plans.”
Flusche also believes it’s imperative that
parents allow their children to lead the climate
change conversation.

“Kids are talking about climate change at
school and other places, and they have a lot
to say if you’re willing to listen and have the
conversation with them,” she says. “We’ve
learned so much by listening to kids tell us
about climate change. Ask your children what
they know and what about climate change
matters to them.”
In addition to education and discussion,



Montessori School
of McLean
CAMP DIRECTORY
Exceptional Montessori
Education for Toddlers
through Upper Elementary:
Ages 2-12
2021 SUMMER CAMP
W ith each new milestone that our children reach comes the
need for information to guide them (and us) through this
stage. This is particularly true when our children are old
enough to attend summer camp. How do we know which camp is right
for them? In an education-centered community like ours, there can be
a lot of options—where do we even get started? Right here, actually,
with these listings. Read about these camps, what they offer and the
ages they serve. Then visit their websites to learn more. On our website,
WashingtonFAMILY.com, you can find even more listings to help you in
your search. Be sure to check back on our website and in our magazine
in upcoming months for more stories and helpful tips.

Cultivating each child’s unique ability to flourish
in mind, body and spirit
ENRICHMENTS • Science • Technology • Spanish • Outdoor Classroom
• Library • Music • Drama • Art • Physical Education
Aftercare • Transportation • Summer Camp
1711 Kirby Road
McLean, VA 22101
703-790-1049 Accredited by
www.mcleanmontessori.org Note: The camps on the following pages were still planning to be open as we
went to press; however, that may change as we get closer to summer. Please
be sure to contact the camps directly for up-to-date information about their
operating status.

Good luck! Here’s to a great summer.

DAY CAMPS
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
WEEKEND IMAGES INC. / E+
DCI EXPEDITIONS
Ages: Rising 5th-8th graders
dcinternationalschool.org/ summercamp
info@dcinternationalschool.org 202.808.9033
District of Columbia
International School
The Parks at Walter Reed
1400 Main Drive NW
Washington, DC 20012
Categories: Language Intensives,
Visual Arts, Dance, Music, Theatre,
Cooking, Design, Sports and MORE!
YMCA ANTHONY BOWEN
1325 W Street, NW
Washington DC 20009
202-232-6936 member.service@ymcadc.org
YMCA CALOMIRIS
PROGRAM CENTER
1906 Allison Street, NE
Washington DC 20018
202-526-4233 YMCA CAPITAL VIEW
PROGRAM CENTER
2118 Ridgecrest Court, SE
Washington DC 20020
202-889-0643 WashingtonFAMILY.com 21