Swedish preschool children show interest and are involved in the future of the world : Children’s voices must influence education for sustainable development (ESD)

• The Swedish preschools, full day offers for children aged 1-6 years, have a long tradition of outdoor education and a curriculum that specifies goals concerning the environment, the nature and democratic values. The National Curriculum especially stresses the importance of children’s influence in the daily activities and the task to promote gender equity for girls and boys and for the teachers. In this article we will first tell about the specific task for Swedish pre-schools as it is stated in the national curriculum. Then we will describe a theme based project about life, hens and eggs from Långvik’s pre-school outside Stockholm, Sweden, and a research project with a gender perspective on out-door education from Mälardalen University. Finally, we point out the very important role teachers’ play and thus suggest reformed Teacher Education Programmes incorporating questions linked to education for sustainable development and to the importance of children’s influence and participation.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Annan samhällsvetenskap -- Övrig annan samhällsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Other Social Sciences -- Other Social Sciences not elsewhere specified (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Utbildningsvetenskap -- Pedagogik (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Educational Sciences -- Pedagogy (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Early Childhood Education

sustainable development

ESD

Sweden

preschool

child participation

Children

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