5 Ways To Take Climate Action With Kids In NYC

In the last 12 months, every kid in New York City has experienced some of the effects of climate change firsthand. We had an unprecedented wildfire smoke event last June that turned the skies orange, rain that brought heavy flooding in September, and the first snow day after a two-year snow drought in February.

It can feel tricky to talk about these events with your kids. I write the weekly newsletter The Golden Hour, which provides strategies to address all the emotions that climate change brings up in developmentally appropriate ways. And with Climate Mental Health Network, I created free resources for having a conversation about climate change and big feelings. I give presentations and webinars on parenting in the climate crisis, too, to schools and community groups.

Taking meaningful action on climate change is important in its own right. It’s also important for children’s–and parents’--mental health. We always want to tell our kids to “look for the helpers,” in the words of Mr. Rogers, when we’re talking about scary or confusing things going on in the world. And even better is to be a helper. Here are five ideas on how to get involved in climate action as a family, even for the youngest kids.

1. Visit the Climate Museum in Lower Manhattan

The Climate Museum closes April 28, so don’t wait! It’s a wonderful exhibit in SoHo that emphasizes climate justice, hope and solutions.

2. Join Climate Families NYC

Climate Families NYC is a grassroots, all-volunteer network that stages family-friendly protests and actions to push our elected officials, banks and insurance companies to get off fossil fuels. They recently had a “play-in” at Governor Hochul’s office! I’m currently campaigning with them and a citywide coalition to get more NYC schools retrofitted for energy efficiency, cleaner air, and solar power, and you can join us...

3. Support your school’s Climate Action Days

This year, New York City Public Schools launched a program of 4 “climate action days”, each with different themes. It’s up to each individual school to decide what to do on these days, and parents can help! The theme of April 7th is “ Health, Wellness, and Green Space” and June 12th is “Water”.

4. Volunteer in a NYC park

Trees clean the air and cool the city; parkland helps with drainage, reducing flood risk. There are regular family-friendly opportunities to take care of street trees, pick up trash, and more.

5. Organize a walk/bike/roll to school day

NYC’s transportation infrastructure is greener than many other places. Still, promoting people-powered transportation in your neighborhood can also help calm traffic and make streets safer for kids every day. National “Walk, Bike & Roll to School Day” is May 8th but you can organize one any time that makes sense for your school!

Bonus idea:

Why not propose a climate-themed field trip for your child’s grade, club, or religious school class? The web site “Explorable Places” lists Climate-themed options from Hudson River Park to the Rockaways.

Anya Kamenetz speaks, writes, and thinks about generational justice; about thriving, and raising thriving kids, on a changing planet. Her newsletter on these topics is The Golden Hour. She covered education for many years including for NPR, where she co-created the podcast Life Kit: Parenting. Her newest book is The Stolen Year: How Covid Changed Children’s Lives, And Where We Go Now. Kamenetz is currently an advisor to the Aspen Institute and the Climate Mental Health Network, working on new initiatives at the intersection of children and climate change.