My NAEYC workshop on “Young Children and Climate Change” focuses on the importance of exploratory play in building children’s creativity, resilience, and hope. Play empowers children as change agents because it prepares them for imagining and constructing solutions to problems.
I advocate for prioritizing play that
- Nurtures joy in the natural world
- Builds problem-solving skills
- Teaches content knowledge (water, weather, and engineering)
- Models and supports empathy and care
Here are just a few of the resources shared during my session:
United Nations
https://www.un.org/climatechange
https://www.unicef.org/media/48126/file/UNICEF_Strategic_Plan_2018-2021-ENG.pdf
ARNAC climate report
LEGO Foundation play resources
https://learningthroughplay.com/
Learning In Places
Growing Up Boulder
https://www.growingupboulder.org/
Reggio Children
https://www.reggiochildren.it/en/
Children must be seen as valued and capable participants in our response to climate change, and their early education must be supported in ways that build competence and a strong sense of empowerment to meet future challenges with hope and optimism.
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