You don’t need a complicated lesson plan to start teaching children about sustainability.

It’s about helping our children notice the world around them, become curious about nature and gradually understand that they have a part to play in looking after it.

That might happen through outdoor play, creative activities, conversations, everyday routines or simply giving children the time and space to explore what’s around them. The important thing is that sustainability becomes part of your child’s everyday experiences rather than something that only comes up for a special activity.

For younger children especially, a lot of this learning happens through watching and joining in. They see what the adults around them do, have a go themselves and, over time, begin to develop their own understanding of why caring for our environment matters.

 

What Does Sustainability Mean in Early Childhood Education?

 

In NZ, caring for the environment is closely connected to the principles of kaitiakitanga, or guardianship of the natural world.

This is reflected in Te Whāriki, particularly within the Exploration strand, Mana Aotūroa. In which the curriculum encourages children to develop a sense of responsibility for the living world and to learn ways of caring for it.

For our children, this learning is going to look very different from a formal sustainability lesson.

It might be a toddler helping to water the vegetable garden each morning, checking whether the worms in the worm farm need more food or collecting leaves from outside to add to a nature table.

These experiences give our children the opportunity to build a relationship with the natural world. They begin to notice it, care about it and understand that they have a part to play in looking after it.

 

How Do Children Learn About Sustainability?

 

Children are natural imitators. They watch the adults around them and then have a go themselves making everyday routines one of the easiest ways to introduce sustainable habits.

For example, rather than giving a child a long explanation about conserving water, a kaiako can simply turn the tap off while they are soaping their hands. After seeing this happen regularly, a child may eventually start reaching for the tap themselves.

The same applies to waste. If food scraps always go into a compost or worm farm, our children begin to recognise where they belong. They don’t necessarily need to understand the bigger environmental picture straight away.

Te Whāriki recognises the importance of giving children opportunities to care for animals and living things, as well as having practical processes around things such as recycling, conservation and waste disposal.

The main thing is consistency. When our children see the same actions happening every day, sustainability becomes part of normal life rather than something they only hear about during a special activity.

 

10 Simple Nature Based Activities for Preschoolers

 

Sustainability activities don’t need to be complicated or expensive. Some of the best ones use things you already have or can find outside.

1. Start a worm farm- A worm farm gives children something living to look after. They can help collect suitable food scraps, add them to the farm and check on the worms regularly.
2. Grow herbs or vegetables- Children can help plant seeds, water them and watch them change over time. When they eventually pick something they’ve grown themselves, they get to see the whole process from seed to food.
3. Plant a tree- Take photos throughout the year and revisit the tree with the children. They can see how much it has changed and begin to understand that nature takes time.
4. Make water conservation part of water play- When you’re filling containers or using a hose, show children how to turn the tap off when it’s not needed. They can still enjoy the activity while gradually learning that water is something we shouldn’t waste.
5. Collect natural loose parts- A walk outside can become a treasure hunt without needing to buy anything. Your child can collect sticks, leaves, pinecones and other natural materials that have already fallen to the ground. These can then be used for building, sorting, imaginative play or art.
6. Look for birds- Set aside a few minutes to see which birds are visiting the outdoor area. You could even make a simple bird feeder together and keep track of the birds that come to visit.
7. Keep a simple weather chart- A daily weather chart is an easy way to connect what children see outside with what’s happening in the environment.
   Is it raining? Is the ground wet? Is the garden dry? Is the wind moving the leaves?
   These observations might seem small, but they’re helping children make connections between different parts of the natural world.
8. Sort compost and recycling- Give children a few familiar items and let them work out whether they belong in the rubbish, recycling or compost. You can keep the activity simple and use the same system your centre already has.
9. Explore the beach or rock pools- If you are near the coast, beach and rock pool visits provide plenty of opportunities to talk about caring for the environment. One simple rule for young children is: look, but leave it where you found it.
   Children can observe shells, rocks, seaweed and small sea creatures without needing to take them home.
10. Create a seasonal nature table- You might have leaves, flowers and seed pods during one season, then replace them with different natural materials as the year changes. Children can touch, sort and talk about what they’ve found, while also beginning to notice that the environment changes throughout the year.

 

FAQs

 

Q.1- What age can children start learning about sustainability?

As early as toddlerhood, which is between the ages of 2 to 3. At this stage, the focus is less on understanding the reasons behind sustainability and more on experiencing and copying positive behaviours.

Q. 2- Is sustainability education compulsory in New Zealand ECE centres?

Sustainability isn’t generally taught as a separate subject in early childhood education. However, caring for the natural world and developing a sense of responsibility towards living things are reflected in Te Whāriki, particularly through the Exploration strand. Many early childhood services incorporate sustainability into their everyday routines and learning experiences.

Q. 3- What does kaitiakitanga mean?

Kaitiakitanga is often described as guardianship or care for the natural world.
In an early childhood setting, this can be seen through simple actions such as caring for plants and animals, respecting natural spaces and learning to look after the resources we use.

Q. 4- How can parents continue sustainability learning at home?

The easiest approach is to build on what children already know.
If your child helps sort compost at their centre, you could introduce a similar routine at home. If they have a garden they help care for, give them a small job to do at home too. When children see the same habits in different parts of their lives, those habits are more likely to stick.