Tag: Empathy

Embracing Nature

  • Key idea: Human beings have an innate need to connect with nature – e.g. Promoting a love of nature and regular experience of its positive impact. (UC6.1)

Title:  What Clara Saw
Author: Jessica Meserve
Illustrator: Jessica Meserve
Publisher:  ‎ Macmillan
Publication Date:  2019
ISBN:‎ 978-1509866601

“Can a chimp chat, or a tortoise feel teary? Do animals help each other and do they feel love?”.

Emergent learning:

What is it about nature that is so wonderful? 

It is the variety, the diversity, and the ecological wonder of our recognition of natural interdependence .  Every plant, animal, fish, bird insect on the planet, humanity included are part of a diverse living community, and we rely on each other and we must learn to respect each other.

In the early years it is the child’s sensory experience of their interactions with the physical environment that dominates their learning.  That is why it is important to ensure young children enjoy a wider range of physical stimulation, this is also why it is important to take them out into the natural environment, and why it is important for them to gain experience of different terrains and environments, to play in, and to play with. These include different media such sand and water . Many significant environmental features are so common in the child’s life that they will not be noticed, unless we draw their attention to them.  This includes the natural wildlife which needs to be protected.   In early childhood education, we often guide children to love animals and cherish life. While most children can understand this idea and express agreement in words, in daily life, when they actually encounter small creatures (e.g. a spider or a caterpillar), they may still act on curiosity or impulse and harm it.  While it may often be assumed that it is enough for children to spend lots of time outside enjoying the natural environment, that really isn’t sufficient in itself if we want them to learn to have care and concern for the natural world. There are serious problems in our natural environment, and we should respect our children enough to avoid hiding these problems from them.

Animals are hurt needlessly, and even sometimes killed just for sport. Climate change is another problem that we have all contribute towards, and it will have a significant effect upon our children’s lives.  These subjects are constantly addressed in the media and even the youngest children ask us questions about it. We want to prepare our children for the future but many of us worry that talking about our contradictory behaviours, and  the environmental dangers, and the fate of endangered species will  encouraging despair and anxiety.

The answer to this apparent dilemma is  help them feel that they can make a difference and to celebrate our collective human efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change.  This is what educators mean when they refer to early childhood education for sustainable citizenship, its all about encouraging children to recognise that they are not victims, they have agency and can make a difference.  

For health and safety reasons we draw the child’s attention to the importance of hygiene in the early years, and the dangers of steep drops, deep water, and electricity.  Parents and teachers also consider topics such as changes in the weather, and our responses in terms of gaining shelter and protective clothing of value.  With the advent of global warming, the child’s future understand of the subject requires that they appreciate the heating effects of the sun, and the effects of obstructions to the sun provided by shade, and the ‘greenhouse’ capture of heat that is felt whenever we find ourselves in sunlight under glass.

Activity recommendation:

Being wary of new a new environmental encounter is a good survival instinct but one way we learn to respect differences is to recognise similarities. Charles Darwin is famous for his 1859 book The Evolution of Species... but he also wrote The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals in 1872 and a legacy of that in recent years has been a greater recognition of the embodied nature of many human emotional expressions. We are all animals. Unfortunately children often grow up to disrespect and/or fear many animals. In some cultural contexts children may also grow up to fear even very superficial differences between people, and they may even begin to adopt cultural prejudices.  This isn’t sustainable.  This is why many preschools around the world ensure that their play resources include small world people and dolls with different skin colours.

We live in a world where historical conflicts and competition have often encouraged the development of fear and prejudices.  Yet diversity provides the underlying strength and resilience of every ecological system.  This holds throughout nature, and is equally true of every social, cultural, and commercial organisation or nation state. Creativity requires a diversity of ideas and of experience.  Prejudices are undermined when we recognise that the diversity to be found within every supposed human group is actually greater than the differences between them. This applies to the nations of the world, as well as to gender and different cultural and ethnic groups. In all of this it is especially important to recognise that skin colouration is a variation that is literally only  ‘skin deep’ .  Modern science has shown that the outdated ideas of their being separate biological ‘Races’ were simply wrong…

Title:  I do it like this!
Author: Susie Brooks
Illustrator: Cally Johnson-Isaacs
Publisher: Kane Miller Books
Publication Date:  2019
ISBN:‎ ‎ 978-1610678261

“A fun, interactive book of comparisons”.

Other Book recommendations:

Recommendation reason:

Reducing Waste through Giving and Sharing

Title: The Doorbell Rang
Author: Pat Hutchins
Illustrator:
Publisher:  Greenwillow
Publication Date:  2086
ISBN:  ‎ ‎ 978-0688052522

A fun book about sharing and friendship that also supports emergent numeracy.

Emergent learning:

The economic benefits of sharing are obvious, and if we are no longer using something it costs us nothing to give it to someone who will use it.  There are also many social and emotional learning benefits that can be gained through children sharing, they learn to build and maintain friendships, they develop patience and empathy, how to cooperate, and how to manage their emotions. 

Preschools often organise toy and book sharing libraries and the best of these projects involve the children at every stage of their planning and execution.  Extensions of this involve the sharing of outgrown school uniforms, children’s clothing, and car sharing in the transportation to and from the preschool.  All of these things can operate at any level, between individual families or whole communities.

Activity recommendation:

When we are working with children in fund raising for good causes, as adults it is important for us to recognize that there can sometimes be a downside to giving simple charity: At its worse it can encourage false notions of superiority in the donors, and of dependence for recipients.  One of the best ways to avoid that is to encourage exchange, to provide practical rather than financial support, or to provide groups or individuals with reduced interest or interest free loans that support their own efforts. This way we can empower individuals and groups to become more self reliant and sustainable. Examples include the development of mutual aid projects, community gardens, and micro-finance initiatives.
The OMEP-UK Early Childhood Education for Sustainable Citizenship Award: A Call for Partnerships – John Siraj-Blatchford – OMEP
Global Partnership Strategy for early c…od, 2021-2030 – UNESCO Digital Library

Other Book Recommendations: 

Recommendation reason:

Helping Each Other

  • Key idea: Climate effects different groups in different ways – e.g. encouraging support and empathy for different groups such as the elderly, those in more vulnerable environments locally and abroad.
  • Key idea: Who we are, and the circumstances that we live in, can create more negative experiences – e.g. encouraging support and empathy for groups and individuals treated unfairly.

Title:  Whoever You Are
Author: Mem Fox
Illustrator: Leslie Staub
Publisher:  ‎:Houghton Mifflin
Publication Date: 2017
ISBN: ‎ 978-1328895813

“Although children around the world may look different, speak different languages, and live in different places, their hearts are the same. They all laugh, cry, and feel love just like us”.

Emergent learning:

In the context of education for sustainability the first key idea here is that Climate effects different groups in different ways. Who we are, and the circumstances that we live in, can create especially  negative experiences. Human interdependence is an ecological fact of nature, we all depend upon each other, we depend on our family, neighbours, and climate change has shown us now better than ever before how we all depend on everyone else around the world.  Yet competitive national, cultural and ethnic divisions often get in the way of us co-operating and collaborating properly to achieve peace and prosperity for everyone. 

But scientific evidence has repeatedly shown that there is more diversity within human populations and groups than there is between these groups.  Humanity isn’t divided into distinct biological ‘races’, and even gender might be considered more of a continuous, rather than a categorical variable. The physical differences between us provide complementary talents and capabilities.  

The latest research demonstrates the rich neurodiversity that we all share.  We may all be unique individuals and different, but in other respects we are all the same and we are equal.  It is social and cultural prejudices and fear that create barriers to our natural instincts to provide cooperation and mutual support, and for the sake of Peace and Sustainability education these false narratives must be countered from an early age.

Activity recommendation:

Being able to care for others and offer comfort, empathy is an important ability that children can begin to develop in their early years. Some excellent guidance is available to educators and parents:
https://birthto5matters.org.uk/inclusive-practice-and-equalities/
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/nov2019/understanding-anti-bias

See also:
Siraj-Blatchford, J. (2018) Peace Education and Sustainability, Montessori International, Spring
Siraj-Blatchford, J (2008) The implications of early understandings of inequality, science and technology for the development of sustainable societies in Samuelsson, I and Kaga, Y (Eds), The Contribution of Early Childhood Education to a Sustainable Society. Paris: UNESCO

Other Book Recommendations:

Information and Disinformation

  • Key idea: We learn from many different information sources – e.g. Support the child in their critical awareness of the adult world: Consider teaching them, for example, if they are ever lost, that they should ask another parent with a child for help, and that they should give them their full name.

Title:  Little Red Riding Hood
Author: Susanna Davidson
Illustrator: Mike Gordon
Publisher:  ‎ Usborne Picture Books
Publication Date: 2012
ISBN: ‎ 978-1409551690

Children enjoy finding out how Little Red Riding Hood outwitted the Wolf, in this quirky retelling of the classic fairy tale.

Emergent learning:

Children are never too young to begin learning about information and disinformation, they are never too young to be critical thinkers. In fact this is considered a priority for most parents when they think of the dangers of their child blindly trusting other adults. In the UK we have ‘Stranger Danger’ campaigns that have been developed to alert children of the potential dangers of interacting with adults that are not recognised. Campaigns are increasing concerned to prepare children to say “No!” to any adult potential abuser.

Little Red Riding Hood is a traditional European story that dates back to the 17th Century and it provides a moral tale of a small girl that is at risk of being fooled by a big nasty Wolf.  Children usually love the thrill and excitement of the story and take great pride in recognising that they themselves would not be so foolish to believe what the Wolf is telling them.

Moral stories have a role in helping children safely explore their fears and concerns, they help them learn about truth and honesty, and right and wrong.

Activity recommendation:

After finishing the story, you might invite your child to think a little deeper by asking: “If you were Little Red Riding Hood, would you believe what the Big Bad Wolf was saying?” A simple question like this can help children engage more with the story and also practice thinking critically.

A wider practical point to be made here is that we need to recognise that the sharing of some experiences, and picture story books might be counter productive unless they are  backed up by activities that involve the child in contributing to solutions, that counter fear and feelings of despair, and encourage optimism.  A good example of a book that could be a problem if not presented appropriately in this way is Lonely Polar Bear (Happy Fox Books) by  Khoa Lee, which is all about the dangers of the melting polar ice caps. Contrast this with How To Help A Hedgehog And Protect A Polar Bear (Nosy Crow) by Jess French.

Title:  The Lonely Polar Bear
Author: Khoa Le
Illustrator:
Publisher:  ‎ Happy Fox Books
Publication Date: 2018
ISBN: ‎ ‎ 978-1641240161

“A little polar bear wakes up alone after a furious storm”.

Title:  How to Help a Hedgehog and Protect a Polar Bear
Author: Dr Jess French
Illustrator: Angela Keoghan
Publisher:  ‎ Nosy Crow Ltd
Publication Date:  2022
ISBN: ‎ ‎ 978-1788007078

“Learn how you can save endangered animals and make the world a better place, too!”

See also:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/z7sbbdm

Book recommendation:

Climate Anxiety and Agency

  • Key idea: It is important to express our emotions – e.g. Learning to share feelings with family, teacher and friends, learning to identify and label basic emotions (happy, sad, scared, angry) in story books and in others (UC3.3).
  • Key Idea: We should support children in feeling empowered and optimistic for the future – Sustainable citizens, our youngest, and their elders together, are contributing towards solving the problems that we face. 

Title:  The Last Tree
Author: Emily Haworth-Booth
Illustrator:
Publisher:  Farshore
Publication Date: 2020
ISBN: ‎ 978-1843654377

Before the community realised the consequences of what they were doing, they cut down most of the trees, the forest becomes thinner, until there is just one last tree standing. It was left for the children to find a solution.

Emergent learning:

Bad things happen and we want our children to grow up to be resilient, that means that we must provide support and encouragement when they face challenges, we mustn’t be over-protective. If we share a picture story book that is focused upon sustainability, and it leaves the child feeling sad, scared or angry then we have failed.  Perhaps we have found the wrong book, or perhaps we have shared it badly – to get it right, what we must remember is that whatever danger, crisis or problem that the story is addressing we must leave the child feeling that there is something that we can do together to help the situation.  We should leave them feeling empowered and optimistic for the future. Sustainable citizens, young and old together can solve the problems that we face. 

Activity recommendation:

We contribute towards early childhood education for sustainable citizenship education whenever we involve children in our day to day sustainable decision making, explaining to them the reasons that we are choosing the sustainable option in our purchase of a particular food item, domestic appliance or vehicle. We can provide positive role models by involving them in our conservation of the natural environment, of energy and in our reductions in waste. We can also help them control and express their emotions freely by talking about our own feelings, and the feeling states of others in story books, and in real life.  Always celebrate the collective progress that is being made to create a more sustainable world and foster the children’s pride in being a part of it.

Other Book Recommendations:

Safety and Resilience

  • Key idea: Climate change causes extreme weather – e.g. Making preparations before a storm, and participating as a team in emergency drills for fire and floods (UC3.2).
  • Key idea: Different weather conditions can affect people’s daily lives – e.g. identifying the effects of extreme weather on the availability of food items (UC5.3).

Title:  Playtown: Emergency
Author: Roger Priddy
Illustrator: Priddy Books
Publisher:  Priddy Books
Publication Date:  2016
ISBN: ‎ 978-1783412822

Children will learn about doctors, firefighters, police and rescue crews, as well as the places they work, the vehicles they drive and equipment they use to do their jobs.

Emergent learning:

Extreme weather events effect us all either directly in causing damage to our homes and lives when there are floods, winds etc. or indirectly through community shared costs and effects upon water hygiene, food production, energy disruption etc. We want children to gain confidence in knowing that with a little team work and community spirit, no problem or emergency will ever be insurmountable. 

A very positive and empowering way to introduce young children to safety as a general theme is to focus on the ‘first responders’; the people who come to help us in an emergency.  Address fears directly, fire engines are big and loud alarms are scary but if we know what to do we don’t have to worry and we can help each other.

Activity recommendation:

The main focus should be on emergency prevention, but we must also be prepared and learn about what we should all be doing in an emergency. There are picture story books to support this but a visit to the fire station or visits from e.g. uniformed firefighters and paramedics will be potentially more memorable and effective.  The trick is to prepare such visits in advance, prepare the adult professional on how to talk to young children and prepare the children for what they may learn. 

Book recommendation: