Young Children and the Environment Early Education for Sustainability

In this chapter, co-authors Eva Ärlemalm-Hagsér (Sweden), Diane Boyd and Naomi McLeod (England), Maria Assunção Folque (Portugal) and Deniz Kahriman (Türkiye) capture diverse case studies. These include children in Portuguese public spaces engaging with community, a Turkish preschool’s transformation through the 7 Rs (plus one more R), a study of intergenerational sustainability learning in England and a narrative of a Swedish preschool teacher’s pedagogical adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Central themes are children’s empowerment, and community learning and sharing for sustainability. Grounded in real-life contexts, each case study relates directly to societal concerns of the twenty-first century and highlights the multiple dimensions of sustainability – social, political, economic and environmental. Collectively, the case studies demonstrate empathy and respect and draw on shared knowledge and skills in authentic partnerships, while illuminating deep understandings of and valuing the broader environment.