Preschool children’s perceptions on human–environment relationship: follow-up research

ABSTRACT

In the current study, we focus on how the early childhood education for sustainability (ECEfS) program develops the perceptions of preschool children about the human–environment relationship. The sample of the study consisted of preschoolers aged 60–66 months in Ankara, Turkey. The data were collected through the drawings of children on the topic of ‘human–environment’ and interviews on drawings obtained before and after the program. The findings revealed that children perceive their environment as a peaceful and gentle place. Furthermore, children conceptualized the environment through unusual and fantastic elements and they described the environment through secondary sources. There was a shift in descriptions in the post- and follow-up drawings including proposing recycling as a way of reconstructing the human–environment relationship, with making connections between global issues. In parallel to post findings, follow-up drawings gained after 10-month of the implementation highlights children’s own solutions for a sustainable future.

KEYWORDS:

• Early childhood
• education for sustainable development
• human–environment relationship
• preschool children

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Seçil Cengizoğlu

Seçil Cengizoğlu is a PhD candidate in Elementary and Early Childhood Education department at Middle East Technical University in Turkey. Her research interests focus on environmental education in early years, early childhood education for sustainability, sustainable practices in childcare.

Refika Olgan

Refika Olgan is an associate professor in Elementary and Early Childhood Education department at Middle East Technical University in Turkey. Her research interests include science education in the early years, environmental education, education for sustainable development, teacher education, and assessment in early childhood education.

Gaye Teksöz

Gaye Teksöz is a professor in Elementary Science Education at the Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey. She received her PhD, MS, and BS degrees in environmental engineering and she received associated professorship in elementary science education. Her areas of interests are environmental education, education for sustainability and climate change education for sustainability.