to think constantly taking about the end if the world can't be helping our young people's anxiety levels?

[DrinkSangriaInThePark]

Before I start, I'm NOT saying that we need to protect them from realising that things are in a bad way, and that we need to address it.

However, in Ireland, we have just had a full 'Climate week' on our national TV and radio stations (RTE, BBC's Irish equivalent) which talked non- stop about the impending end of civilisation. I'm a secondary teacher and I'm really starting to see how stressed these teenagers are becoming. Now one argument is that it's good, that the more affected they are, the more likely it is that they'll be motivated to react and change things.
But at what cost to their individual mental health?
I don't want an argument, by the way... I'm just musing. My own kids are between 9 and 12 and I hate when they get scared about the future. I don't think any child or teenager should be awake at night worrying about the world's future on top of all the usual growing up stuff they have to deal with.

yes, I totally agree with you. Especially with younger children. I think it's akin to child abuse.

Wow, that's interesting, I an really interested that you feel the same, and so strongly. I suppose I feel that the media will always grab onto the most dramatic stories and at any cost, and I think that they are running with this out of all proportion. It's it job as parents to shield our children from things they can't actually prevent happening to them so when a child says to me that they think the world is going to end in their life time I need to tell them that it's just not true.

I completely agree. Children have so many challenges just navigating life. I see the point the other side are making but I agree with you.

meh, we had nuclear Armageddon to worry about when I was a teen. Climate change seems more manageable.

It,s not ne news though is it. I agree in the past there was concearn about nuclear wars and nuclear powerstation explotions global warming is nothing new. So no I don,t think it should explain the increase in young peoples anxiety.

Sorry but YABU. We need kids to act and we need to act!

I'm in the middle here. On the one hand, it's scary, and the message should probably be balanced with one of hope as there are lots of potential solutions and new technologies which are likely to turn the game around.
On the other hand, prophecies of doom have been around since civilisation began.. I think they're part of our collective psyche. In a way they may help us be less complacent and live in the moment more.
Show your kids the "good news network" website if they get miserable - on there I learned today that the humpback whale population has recovered almost to pre-whaling levels, that cheered me up no end!

I agree.

When it comes to tackling world poverty, we get kids involved via things like comic relief, which yes does have some sad videos of people suffering, but that’s balanced out with a lot of fun stuff so that it’s child appropriate. They have a giggle, learn something and” maybe raise some money. Getting them invoked with climate action should be similar, not blasting them with horror stories 24/7

I have 3 neices and the oldest is 9, is very intelligent but sensitive and I can't imagine scarring her with horror stories about her future. I was terrified of nuclear war, Aids and rabies (channel tunnel related propaganda ) but I was a teenager by then and in a better position to handle it.

Agree about things being all imminent nuclear Armageddon when I was young. Films, war games etc.

Having said that, DD in year 8 and everything they are doing at school is really depressing. Knife crime, plays about gang violence, ww2, climate change, English is tragedies.

I say fgs can't they give you just one positive happy uplifting thing to do! It's too much.

Oh yes
Aids
Ads about heroin
Prob more

DS2 age 6 came home with a book about the destruction of the ozone level. Ffs
My mum was scared of a nuclear war with Russia, I was scared of aids and BSe and now we're scaring kids shitless with climate fear. I personally won't watch any wildlife program (even the sainted David) because it's ruined with all the ...but they're all dying because of climate change!

I don’t think you’re being unreasonable because I’m a grown adult and struggling to manage how depressing I find the climate change message, on behalf of my children and also myself.

To be honest, the timescale for meaningful action is so short that we don’t need young people to appreciate the issues, we need older people to grasp it. Young people have a powerful voice for change but it’s for those who are currently in power to act to change the future.

Grew up with IRA and Lebanon in the news. Remember it still.

By the way, I do think this is different to a potential nuclear war. That was something, however terrifying, that might happen. Climate change IS happening.

Oh lord IRA yes

There was plenty to worry about back then too.

Re climate change v nuclear war.
Climate change is slower.
Someone drops a nuke on you it's kind of more instant.

I don't think you can make comparisons like that, how people feel about different threats differs.

I think it's akin to child abuse.

Really?

The problem is the kids can't really do a lot to change things.

As a kid growing up I thought constantly about a nuclear war. I was quite a worry-wart though. Every few years the tabloids would publish a story predicting the end of the world. Each time we'd go to the gym, put "seasons in the sun" on the record player and cry.

Now I have cats to worry about - what on earth do we do with our cats if there's an armageddon?

Teenagers are meant to be passionate and idealistic. It happened with CND and Cold War when we were younger. We learnt to temper our concerns. Climate change is happening.
Factual information doesn’t create damage and certainly isn’t akin to abuse. Shielding children from reality, wrapping in cotton wool and not allowing them to understand i,s in my mind, more abusive and more likely to create problems. Cotton wool children sold the pup of perpetual and perfect happiness is much, much more harmful and prevents them developing any resilience.

I think it’s fine for schools, and media, to discuss these issues.

When I was young these were on TV - nuclear war drills

player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-protect-and-survive-1975-online

I spoke to Russian friend who had similar.

It’s not worse for young people today.

I agree the curriculum is very depressing in year 8. I remember dd was doing the holocaust in history, reading A woman in black, climate change and deforestation in geography and discussing teen suicides in pshe.

I remember the AIDs ads, they didn’t worry me I was pretty young, but it wasn’t all sunshine and happiness either.

It's happening. It's the reality and shouldn't be avoided in school. When I grew up it was the threat of nuclear war...

I think it's fine for schools to discuss it. IMO, part of this should be time set aside for discussion with students about what their thoughts are, and what they worry about (if that isn't already the case)