How to talk to kids about the Los Angeles wildfires and other climate crises

As firefighters mark two weeks battling deadly wildfires in and around Los Angeles, reports of destroyed homes and the displacement of thousands of people are nearly impossible to avoid— for both adults and children.

Molly Bloom, host of the “Brains On!” podcast, knows that discussing wildfires — and climate change in general — can be difficult. She sought advice from a therapist who specializes 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 those strong emotions are normal and reflect genuine concern:

“The first thing you’ve got to remember is you’ve got those fears because you care. If you didn’t care, you wouldn’t feel bad and worried and angry and upset,” Hickman said. “You’re aware that just because you’re not being directly threatened, it doesn’t mean that threat is not affecting humanity. And it means you’re connected with humanity.”

Because L.A. is so large and sprawling, there’s a good chance Minnesotans know someone who lives there — or know someone who knows someone.

“We might want to protect kids from it and not tell them what’s happening, but if they know a little, it’s better for them to know the full 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 they’re a toddler, you might say something like, ‘There’s a fire there, and firefighters are battling it. People are safe because they’ve left their homes if they need to,’” she said. “But the older they are, the more detail you can provide. That actually helps them understand what’s happening.”

Reassure them about their own safety

It’s normal for children to ask if the same disaster could happen where they live. Bloom, who has family in L.A., said her 8-year-old daughter wondered if the fire would reach them in Minnesota — especially after experiencing wildfire smoke from Canada during the summer.

When children ask about personal safety, Bloom says it’s important to reassure them they’re safe and to highlight the helpers — firefighters, the Red Cross, and others — so kids know there are people working to protect them.

Emphasize collective solutions

Finally, Bloom points out that no one person can tackle climate change alone:

“There are things we can do, but we can’t try to take it on and feel like I am individually responsible, because that will just make you feel terrible,” she said.

Instead, focus on small actions (like recycling or conserving energy), connecting with others who also care about the climate, and taking note of hopeful 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.

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