Introducing Children to Peak Oil

steam_cannon · Expert Joined: Dec 28, 2006 Posts: 2281 Location: MA

Howdy all, I was reading this comic "Luz" and telling a few people about it
and I got a lot of responses that this might be a good way to
introduce children to peak oil. No kids myself, but I'm sure a lot of you
have wondered how to explain to your kids what you're typing
about every night, why that backyard garden is so important to
you, that things can be different, that you expect things will be different.
This cartoon might be a good start and I'd like to hear other peoples
incites on introducing kids to peak oil and other changes you expect
in the world we live in.

hippiema1 · Coal Joined: Jul 27, 2007 Posts: 8

As the mother of a nine year old who has absorbed a lot about peak oil and climate change, I'll say that these cartoons have already gone over well. I posted yesterday about his current emotional situation.

I have not actually shown them to my son yet--but even for adults to pick up the serious-but-positive message of these drawings is great preparation for talking with young people. I had not thought of the link with the Cuba story, but it is a great one. (In fact, my son watched and loved that documentary!)

Pops

SC I'm thinking kids like most of us aren't as motivated buy doom as by enjoyment.

I never cease to be amazed by how much little boys are fascinated by chickens and little girls by baby calves, how most all kids love the feeling of riding a bike, have great wonder at the natural world and tending their own little part of the garden, soak up knowledge of all kinds like a sponge, look forward to helping gram make bread, build something with their own hands and put a few pennies in the Bell-Ringer's kettle.

Teach them hope and skills and reason and compassion and they will figure things out when their time comes.

_________________
...ladies and gentlemen, we're not here to indulge in fantasy, but in political and economic reality.
--Gekko.

"I hope my own children never have to fight a war,"
--GHW Bush, Naval Aviator

joeltrout

I agree with Pops. It would be smart to raise your children in a post peak oil lifestyle starting now.

Dont buy them ipods and cellphones when they turn 12 years old. Don't let them get suckered into dreaming of buying fast cars and big trucks.

Teach them to love the land, provide for themselves through hardwork (which happens to be fun when you are young), and help them realize the govt won't always be there to bail them out.

joeltrout
_________________
ENERGY is the basis of our industrial civilization and sustains our standard of living. It is the foundation stone of our national wealth. A nation starved of energy.....will be a nation of starving people.

hippiema1 · Coal Joined: Jul 27, 2007 Posts: 8

Oh Pops, you are so right! In fact, I would go so far as to say that the things you are talking about are important experiences for children in all situations. They are things that can be understood by children. We learn a kind of powerlessness when we only buy industrially-made things and never have a clue how to take care of ourselves. Learning that we can in fact make things happen, even if we never need to do it, gives us a life-long sense of confidence and ability--in the face of depletion or abundance.

Aaron

Looks kids... peak oil is just like this clown.

And it's coming to eat you...

_________________
"We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time." - TS Eliot*

IanC

I have 2 PO aware children, ages 7 and 4. That's right, we don't really sugar coat it for them. Sure, we leave out the biker zombies, but we give them no allusions that life will be changing significantly very soon. In thier childlike way, they believe that things will be okay, even fun - especially the horse-drawn wagons! We'll leave the mass starvation for later...

My first recommendation is to lose the TV pronto. That devilbox is responsible for grooming their consumer appetites for a completely unsustainable, irresponsible lifestyle. My kids are in the habit of entertaining themselves, reading books and using thier imaginations instead of aping what they see on TV (with the exception of the Avatar DVDs we had to buy. Man, that series is so totally cool. Check it out!).

May PO skeptical wife took the kids to school on our new triple tandem this morning. The kids beamed the whole way, singing and enjoying the day. No traffic in sight, unless you count the other bikers. This is Portland, afterall.

-Ian

Pops

catbox · Heavy Crude Joined: Sep 29, 2005 Posts: 272 Location: EUG

As I have posted in another thread, our daughter is aware of PO @ 7. Somehow, she wound up with a first grade teacher who weaves PO into her daily lessons at school. At home, our daughter has and will be part of our transformation and can tell you exactly why we are doing what we are.

As far as TV goes..we limit access to an hour 5-6pm...pbs...and watch movies as a family. I never watch the thing myself and refuse to pay for cable...we did have it a few years back and I have to admit missing all the grand cycling Tour coverage from Europe and Football (soccer)! But, there's more to life!

I think that if you don't scare the hell out of your kids, make them part of the prep, and LISTEN to their concerns, it should work out fine.

We're in for an interesting ride!

catbox
_________________
"Come any closer and I'm going to kick you in the head"- Henry Rollins W/ Black Flag in a basement circa 82' Eugene, Oregon.

steam_cannon · Expert Joined: Dec 28, 2006 Posts: 2281 Location: MA

Nice picture pops Very Happy

usncom · Tar Sands Joined: May 04, 2008 Posts: 23

Wow this is very interesting. I'm a parent as well and I've just barely thought about this. I also happen to be somewhat of a first person shooter gamer and came across a video game called "Fuel of War" as I was searching youtube for peak oil videos.

It does a pretty good job of showing the complete idiocy and futility of fighting of killing each other fighting over some of the world's last energy resources. A quote from the game reads

"In hindsight, it should have been hard to miss what happened net. The price of oil jumped form $70, to over $100 per barrel. Aside from paying more for gas and heating your home, no one seemed to notice at first. It was conventional wisdom that the prices would go down again. But instead, oil prices begin an irrevocable rise that slowly began to weigh on global economies and advance energy to the forefront of national policies."

I lurked on over to the official game forums to see if the game's peak oil long emergency (and yes they did use the phrase LONG EMERGENCY in the game's opening storyline) scenario got anybody talking about the subject and sure enough it did. No one took it seriously as far as I could tell...but at least its getting kids thinking about this.

The popup link edited out by Pops.

Pops

usncom · Tar Sands Joined: May 04, 2008 Posts: 23

Sorry guess i wasn't clear. No one took the subject of peak oil seriously as a result of this video game. However, at least it looks like it got a lot of kids thinking and talking about it in the forums.

mercurygirl · Intermediate Crude Joined: Jan 29, 2006 Posts: 739

Pops, those are beautiful pictures, full of life.

My baby is too. Have been reading and learning about the natural world all along. It's weird trying to explain the food chain to a little one, but she just takes it in and wants to find out more. Unfortunately, sometimes she's seen mommy cry over things, but not so much any more.

At her age level, we're getting into how to treat other creatures. There's a huge fascination, along with which must go respect.
Already, though, kids notice different treatment. I tell her, I don't mind the ants outside, but if they come in my house to get my food, I kill them.

My thoughts for now.
_________________
Tinfoil hats and party favors for everyone!

Barbara

I love when I hear my 8yo talking to friends and saying proudly: "Well, I won't have any car when I'll be grown up. I'll have an horse."
Laughing

_________________
**no english mothertongue**
--------
Objects in the rear view mirror
are closer than they appear.