As firefighters battle deadly wildfires in and around Los Angeles for two weeks, reports of destroyed homes and the displacement of thousands of people are almost impossible for adults and children alike to avoid.
Molly Bloom, host of “Brains On!” » podcast, knows that discussing wildfires – and climate change in general – can be difficult. She sought advice from therapist specializing in climate psychology and eco-anxiety, Dr. Caroline Hickman, and shared her findings with Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer.
“The less information we have, the more anxious we feel,” Bloom said.
Hickman told Bloom that these strong emotions are normal and reflect genuine worry:
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“The first thing you need to remember is that you have these fears because you care. If you didn’t care, you wouldn’t feel bad, worried, angry and upset,” Hickman said. “You are aware that just because you are not directly threatened does not mean that this threat does not affect humanity. And that means you are connected to humanity.
Because Los Angeles is so big and sprawling, there’s a good chance that Minnesotans know someone who lives there — or know someone who knows someone.
“We might want to shield the kids from it and not tell them what’s going on, but if they know a little bit, they better know the big picture,” Bloom said.
Offer age-appropriate explanations
When talking with children about climate-related disasters, Bloom advises adjusting the level of detail based on the child’s age:
“If it’s a toddler, you might say something like, ‘There’s a fire over there and the firefighters are fighting it.’ People are safe because they have left their homes if they need to,” she said. “But the older they are, the more detail you can provide. It actually helps them understand what’s going on.
Reassure them of their own safety
It’s normal for children to wonder if the same disaster could happen where they live. Bloom, who has family in Los Angeles, said her 8-year-old daughter wondered if the fire would reach them in Minnesota — especially after witnessing wildfire smoke coming from Canada during the summer.
When children ask about their personal safety, Bloom says it’s important to reassure them of their safety and to highlight the people who help them – firefighters, the Red Cross and others – so that they children know that people are working to protect them.
Focus on collective solutions
Finally, Bloom emphasizes that no one can fight climate change alone:
“There are things we can do, but we can’t try to take them on and feel individually responsible, because that would make you feel bad,” she said.
Instead, focus on small actions (like recycling or energy conservation), connecting with others who also care about the climate, and taking note of promising developments to alleviate eco-anxiety.
Listen to the full episode – “Understanding Big Fires and Big Feelings” – and find coloring books, guides and other resources for parents and kids at BrainsOn.org.
