Making “Eco-Waves”

Early Childhood Care and Education Sustainability Practices in Aotearoa New Zealand

Authors

  • Iris Duhn
  • Jenny Ritchie

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7721/chilyoutenvi.24.2.0123

Abstract

This article discusses aspects of a recent research project in New Zealand, which utilized ethnographic and narrative methodologies to explore the topic of sustainability within 10 early childhood care and education settings (Ritchie et al. 2010). A particular feature of note in the study was the integration of indigenous (Māori) perspectives within the sustainability programs of these settings. In this article we focus on the ways in which two particular early childhood care and education centers, one located in the largest city, Auckland, the other in Raglan, a small rural coastal town on the North Island, integrated early childhood goals with environmental education principles in teaching young children. The concept of “place” (Gruenewald 2003) informs our theoretical frame which supports analysis of the specific ways in which each center engaged with principles of sustainability in their practice. We further consider ways in which the sustainability projects generated waves of eco-awareness that “spilled over” into the children’s and teachers’ families and the wider communities by emphasizing children’s contributions and initiatives in the process.

Published

2023-01-06