Teaching children about sustainability at childcare is an important part of supporting STEM learning and environmental awareness. It can have many valuable early education benefits.
At childcare, children can engage with a range of environment and sustainability concepts. These help children learn to care for the environment and play a meaningful role in supporting their community. It can also help with other learning programs.
Here are some of the reasons why it’s so important to teach sustainability in childcare.
Promoting environmental responsibility
When children learn about sustainability at childcare, they are able to understand their role and responsibility in protecting the natural environment. This helps children to grow up knowing how to make sustainable choices.
Sustainability education supports children to respect nature and appreciate the world around them. It helps them to play a positive role in caring for the world and building a sustainable future. This enables children to help look after the world they live in.
Supporting STEM learning
Sustainability education also allows children to enhance STEM learning. They can apply their knowledge of maths and science in real-world contexts. This can make it easier for some children to retain new information.
Through environmental education programs, such as gardening and recycling, children can practice counting, measuring, and analysing. They can also begin to ask questions and develop their scientific knowledge with relevance to the natural world.
Building on literacy education
Learning about sustainability at childcare is an opportunity for children to build on existing literacy skills and understandings. This can improve language and communication skills, as well as helping children develop their writing and reading ability.
When participating in sustainability learning activities, children may need to communicate or work collaboratively with their peers and educators. They may also need to read new information or use their writing skills to record sustainability details.
Improving health and well-being
At childcare, teaching sustainability is also a valuable component of many health and well-being programs. Through sustainability programs, children can engage with nature and benefit from outdoor education. They can benefit from sustainable practices while developing confidence.
Sustainable gardening programs can also help children learn about food production and cooking. Children can discover new fruits and vegetables and learn how to make healthy eating choices throughout their lives. This is important in helping children maintain lifelong healthy habits.
Encouraging community participation
Sustainability programs are a meaningful source of community participation. Engaging with sustainability concepts, children can play a role in supporting their centre community. They can also become active participants in the broader community.
Learning about sustainability at childcare helps children understand their important role in looking after the environment. Children can apply skills and knowledge to help others through sustainability activities. This can promote kindness, empathy, and collaboration skills that children will carry with them throughout their lives.
If you’re looking for the right childcare centre for your family, visit MyXplor to search for great local centres, like Brightly Early Learning Grantham Farm in Riverstone.
