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In the News: Tails of Marin

Ecophobia — How and when to talk to children about animal issues

By Gail Ellis

The scenario: A well-meaning first-grade teacher tells her class about African elephants and the difficulties facing them as they slowly travel the road to extinction. She wants her class to care about the animals and to make a difference, so she tells them about the market for ivory and how they can help by not buying it.

The reality: Most first graders have neither the money nor opportunity to buy ivory and there really is not much that they can do to help elephants. The result is that the children, especially the most sensitive, responsible ones, feel helpless and confused. And your child comes home in tears begging you to throw out the Ivory soap to save the elephants.

So what should we tell children about the problems facing animals in our community and throughout the world? How can we influence them to make the future a better place? The answer lies in age levels and maturity. What is appropriate for an 11 year old is completely inappropriate for a five year old.

As children age, they go through several intellectual and emotional levels. Until the age of nine or 10, children are very egocentric and look to adults to make all of the decisions in their life. They may argue with you, but that is what they need to feel secure and confident. They are also very concrete thinkers. Everything is black and white to them. They want justice, but not at their cost.

At this time, the most important lesson you can give your children is to teach them to appreciate and feel empathy for nature. Go on hikes, even in your backyard. Demonstrate the fun to be had in nature. Examine insects or other creatures closely and talk about what they need. Encourage your child to see an animal as a living, feeling entity. Show how we all have the same needs. Developing respect and empathy for even the lowliest of creatures is the most likely predictor of future compassion and activism. People protect what they love and respect.

After age nine or 10, children become more peer oriented. They see the world outside of, rather than extending from, themselves. They can also understand the more abstract concepts that eluded them before. They can feel sadness, but not be overwhelmed by helplessness. They are more action oriented. Now is the time to put the empathy and activism they developed earlier to work. Writing letters to Congress, making posters for their school, boycotting companies and holding fundraising events are all attractive to them. They can make a difference and they know it. They are ready to change the world and they want to tell everyone.

Now is the time to guide them in their decisions. Help them to choose products that reflect their value system. Give them the tools for letter-writing campaigns and fundraisers. Show them how to create backyards that help wildlife. Encourage them to help others less fortunate. Give them more responsibility and the guidance to be successful. Just make sure that your child does the work: Activity creates empowerment!

We all want our children to be sensitive, caring individuals. And we also want to protect them from all that is ugly in the world. These goals are not mutually exclusive. We can do both if we use sensitivity and common sense when guiding them. And we just might learn something new in the process!

Gail Ellis is the education coordinator at the Marin Humane Society.

Tails of Marin appears every Saturday in the Home & Garden section of the Marin Independent Journal