It can be very difficult as a parent to talk to your child about the realities of climate change. Environmental anxiety is real and children are not immune to it, so many parents have an understandable desire to protect their children from the reality of what we have done on Earth.

On the other hand, if we want to try to raise enlightened climate activists who will fight inaction and take care of the planet they inherit, it is important to be open with them. Finding that balance is hard.

Here’s one thing parents can do to help teach kids about climate change without giving them anxiety: Focus on small habits they can start now and build on throughout their lives, such as doing what they can to conserve energy. So here are five easy ways to teach even the youngest of them how to reduce their energy footprint.

1. Teach them to turn off the lights and screens

One of the easiest – and most obvious – ways to teach children to conserve energy is to remind them to turn off the lights when you leave the room and turn off family devices (such as TV, computer, iPad, etc.). They are not in use.

The same goes for not letting the water flow while brushing their teeth, she said. You’re training them to remember that whatever they’re turning on should also be turned off.

2. Help children understand that it is not the end of the world if it is cold or hot

No, you should not make your child feel uncomfortable at all. But you can definitely save energy by keeping your thermostat down in the winter, especially when you’re sleeping or not at home, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. It’s also a waste to turn the air conditioner on every time it’s hot. (In addition, there is emerging evidence that people’s ability to handle heat is changing due to our continued dependence on air conditioners.)

Of course, your child probably does not control the temperature in your home, especially if he is young. But it’s a good idea to get them in the habit of finding other ways to handle a slightly hot or cold day.

“The HVAC system uses most of the energy in your home, so encouraging kids not to move the thermostat up or down is a major way to conserve energy,” Hawk-Sopko said. “Make them in the habit of grabbing a jacket or blanket if they’re cold, and wearing light clothing or turning on the ceiling fan if it’s hot.”

3. Start a Family Bathing Contest

Hawk Sopko said that showering and bathing can waste a lot of water and energy.

One way to reduce is by installing WaterSense-branded shower heads, which meet certain water efficiency requirements, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. She estimates that the average family can save about 2,700 gallons per year by installing it.

But it’s also helpful to get kids into the habit of taking shorter showers — and to make sure it’s a universal rule that applies to you, too.

“Start a family challenge for everyone to cut out two minutes of showering,” Hawk-Sopko said.

4. Ask them to do their homework by the window

If your child has homework, encourage him to do it next to a window with natural light instead of using a lamp, if possible, as Green Child’s checklist suggests. (Of course, this won’t work in the evening or during the cold fall and winter months.)

Once again, you teach them that simple daily choices can make a difference. Furthermore, eating natural light comes with health benefits, including increased exposure to vitamin D.

In general, teaching children to appreciate the world around them by spending time in nature or even simply enjoying the view outside their window can be a powerful way to enhance environmental stewardship.

“Getting children into the natural world is more important than teaching them that great tragedies are looming,” David Sobel, an environmental teacher and faculty member at Antioch University in New Hampshire, previously told HuffPost.

5. Environmental Activity Model

Yes, teaching kids to conserve energy is largely rooted in everyday habits, such as turning off the lights and making sure you use energy-efficient showers, lamps, and other appliances in the home.

But it’s not just about the individual roles we play. For things to get better, policies have to change. So teaching your child what it means to be environmentally active – whatever that means in your home – is ultimately a way to help reduce energy use more broadly.

“Older kids are not [ignorant of] corruption and consumption, and they can understand the roles that big business and government regulation (or lack thereof) play in the energy crisis,” Sopko said. “They can also study how their habits may play a role in production demand that can lead to environmental challenges.”

So when they get older — perhaps in their teenage or teenage years — show them that they can do things like contact state or local officials and garner support for environmental causes in their neighborhoods and schools. Also, show them what  you’ve been doing – the habits you keep on guesting the steps you’re taking to become more involved in these issues yourself.