The book cover of Raising Anti-Doomers: How to Bring up Resilient Kids through Climate Change and Tumultuous Times by Ariella Cook-Shonkoff.
Nature-based early childhood educators are navigating a unique landscape—one where climate change is increasingly influencing children’s questions, emotions, and sense of safety. Supporting young children now requires more than protection from difficult topics; it calls for intentional practices that foster resilience, connection to nature, and hopeful engagement.
In a webinar taking place on Tuesday, February 24 at 1 PM ET / 10 AM PT, we will welcome Ariella Cook-Shonkoff, author of the recently published book, Raising Anti-Doomers: How to Bring Up Resilient Kids Through Climate Change and Tumultuous Times, a groundbreaking guide to raising emotionally resilient children in an era of climate disruption and collective uncertainty.
Together, we’ll examine how to move beyond denial, doom-scrolling, and overwhelm toward hope, agency, and meaningful engagement with young children. Participants will leave with practical tools and frameworks, including:
- Why a nature-based childhood is foundational for children’s mental health
- Developmentally appropriate language and strategies for engaging young children in conversations about climate change
- Why climate denial and overwhelm are not inevitable—and how to move through them
- Understanding your unique environmental identity and how it can resource you
This webinar invites educators to reflect on how early experiences shape lifelong environmental identities and emotional capacity. We’ll explore how to nurture healthy children and mindsets equipped to navigate—and ultimately help address—our changing climate.
This webinar will take place live on February 24 at 1 PM ET and will be recorded and made available on this webpage within a week following the live event.