Eco-anxiety is a thing for children, but here’s how Christian parents can respond

As ’Earth Day’ is marked on April 22^nd, more and more children are experiencing ‘eco-anxiety,’ and even being given medication to counter its ill-effects. The condition is defined by The American Psychological Society as a ‘chronic fear of environmental doom.’

In society, well-intentioned teachers and caregivers, and messages in the culture about ‘saving the world’ may contribute to a child’s sense of taking the heavy burden of environmental destruction on their own shoulders. Is it the next generation’s responsibility to save the world? It’s clear from the book of Revelation that one day Jesus will return and God will create a new heaven and a new earth. Does this mean that we just tell our children not to worry, sit back and wait for Jesus to come back?!

I spoke to Deborah Tomkins, co-chair from Green Christian, an organisation who see caring for God’s creation as one of the central roles of Christians. Tomkins explains, ‘’That was the first job that Adam was given. If you go back and look at Genesis chapters 1 and 2 we see him looking after the garden.’’

 Tomkins points out that humans were created on the same day as the animals. ‘’we were all created in the middle of that wonderful burst of creation. I’m not saying this is scientifically accurate, we aren’t all necessarily created in one day, but the theology behind it is that we are a web of interconnecting creatures that need each other. ‘’