Sustainability

Sustainability

Children become interested in sustainability when adults teach them how important it is. However, young children often observe environmental problems on their own:

"There is too much rubbish in our playground."
"That big tree looks sad."
"Why did that bird die?"
"That truck smells yucky."

Early childhood educators can support children in responding to environmental problems. They can teach children good habits for life and also support children to be environmental advocates.

Sustainability links with children's agency. They have a right to be heard and to make choices and decisions about issues that influence their world, like climate change.

NQF & EYLF

The National Quality Standard requires early education services to care for the environment and support children to become environmentally responsible (3.2.3). They also need to promote children's agency, enabling them to make choices and decisions that influence events and their world (1.2.3).

The Early Years Learning Framework's learning outcomes asks children to become socially responsible and show respect for the environment (2.4), and connect with natural materials (4.4).

Learning experiences

Create ephemeral art

Ephemeral art is a form of sculpture that uses natural objects without removing them from their natural environment. The artworks are temporary but intriguing.

Children can create artworks in their outdoor play space using natural items they find on the ground. Arrange leaves, flowers or seed pods in a mandala shape, or scratch patterns in the sand pit. Read more about ephemeral art by Macquarie University.

Draw the perfect world

Ask each child to draw the world they want to live in. As a group, reflect on the similarities and differences between each picture. How can we work together to make our world a better place to live?

Practice the four Rs

Learn about the four Rs of waste management and look for ways to improve your practices:

Reducing: Using less of something in the first place, so there's less to recycle, reuse, or repair.
Reusing: Using something again, rather than throwing it away.
Recycling: Turning something that would otherwise be thrown away into something new.
Repairing: Fixing something that is broken or not working properly, rather than throwing it away and buying a new one.

Learning environments

Audit your service with the children

Ask children for help to make your service more sustainable. Look at every corner of your service and monitor your daily routines. Use a notebook to write down ways you can improve. Sometimes children will notice different things from educators. Brainstorm together!

Make improvements where you can, but consider aiming for carbon neutral. Ask your local government for information. Read about Australia’s first carbon neutral certified ECEC service.

Create gardens in empty spaces

Teach children to love and respect food. Bring more nature into your service by filling unused spaces with edible gardens. Watch a video about urban gardening in spare spaces, by National Geographic.

Reduce your impact on native wildlife

When the land was cleared to build your service, many native animals lost their homes. We need wildlife to spread seeds, eat pests, pollinate flowers and improve the soil. Improve the sustainability of your outdoor area by adding bird baths with fresh drinking water, rocks, logs and native plants. Read about recreating habitat for urban wildlife.

Family and community connections

Ask for donations

Make your sustainability projects a reality by asking for donations. Many people in the community will be pleased to assist with:

animal manure for your garden (ask local farms)
seeds and seedlings (ask a not-for-profit nursery or community garden)
fresh produce (ask supermarkets and donate it to families in need)
coffee grounds to control garden pests (ask a cafe)
loose parts (ask manufacturing businesses)
paper scraps (ask local businesses and printers)

Respond to community problems

Children can take action to improve the environment in their own community. Ask the children for their own ideas, but here are some suggestions:

Organise a rubbish clean up day. Design flyers to promote it.
Make a helpful video showing ways to reduce household carbon footprints. Send it to families.
Bring nude food with no packaging (for children who bring lunches).
Write a letter to your council or local government about an important issue.
Grow native seedlings and plant them in the community.
Create artwork in a public space to generate awareness about an issue.
Create a swap and share table for families. Add donated toys, books, clothes and fresh produce.

Interactions

Explain why things are done: "we compost our scraps to help the garden".
Show children environmentally-friendly actions.
Praise children when they take action.

Routines

Early childhood educators can teach lifelong sustainability habits to children of all ages. Children learn best when they are actively involved in daily routines:

composting lunch scraps
using a dedicated paper recycling bin at the drawing table
turning lights off during the day
growing and eating their own vegetables
caring for chickens and worm farms
walking or riding a bike to childcare
repairing broken books.

Events

Clean Up Australia Day is in March
Earth Hour is in March
22nd April is International Mother Earth Day
5th June is World Environment Day
18th June is Sustainable Gastronomy Day
Plastic Free July lasts all month

Discussions

Who is responsible for caring for our world?
What temperature makes you the most comfortable?
What do you do at home to help our planet?

Reflections

Are educators modelling sustainable practices for children?
How aware and supportive are families of sustainability?
Do you feel pressure to have new, commercial toys for families?
Are you throwing away plastic toys even though they are still usable? What message does this send to children?