Supporting Young Children in Becoming Active Citizens:

Article written by Janine Kelly

The Importance of Early Engagement in Civic Concepts

Research suggests that citizenship education is not only the domain of later years but is essential during early childhood. According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which is universally endorsed, children have the right to participate in decisions affecting their lives, express their views, and be heard. These principles align with the core aim of ECE: to nurture the holistic development of children—cognitive, emotional, social, and moral. Fostering active citizenship in early childhood is not just about teaching abstract concepts of democracy or governance, but involves creating a participatory, rights-respecting environment where children learn through experiences and practice.

Theories such as Vygotsky’s Social Constructivism and Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory support the idea that children’s learning is deeply embedded in the contexts of their relationships, environments, and social interactions. Young children do not exist in isolation; their development is influenced by their community, culture, and society. In fostering active citizenship, educators need to build upon these theories to create learning environments where children experience democratic principles in action, learn to negotiate with others, and begin to understand their place within the wider world.

Pedagogical Approaches to Supporting Active Citizenship

Fostering a Sense of Belonging and Identity

For children to develop the values and skills of active citizenship, they must first feel that they belong. This is a key component of inclusive education, which emphasizes the creation of a space where all children, regardless of their backgrounds or abilities, feel valued and respected. Research by Siraj-Blatchford and Manni (2007) highlights the importance of fostering a sense of belonging in young children as a key element for social inclusion and personal development. In practice, this can be achieved by:

• Encouraging diverse cultural representation in learning materials.
• Ensuring all children’s voices are heard and valued.
• Providing opportunities for children to learn about and appreciate their own identities and the identities of others.

Participation and Voice

A cornerstone of citizenship education is the principle of participation. In the ECE context, this means giving children a voice in decisions that affect them and involving them in activities that promote responsibility. According to the work of Shier (2001), participation is a crucial part of children’s rights, and involving children in decision-making empowers them to understand their agency. In the classroom, educators can support this by:

• Creating spaces where children can express their thoughts, opinions, and ideas through discussions, art, and play.
• Allowing children to make choices about their activities, the classroom setup, and how rules are created.
• Involving children in problem-solving activities where they work collaboratively to address challenges or resolve conflicts.

When children engage in such participatory practices, they not only develop an understanding of democracy, but also gain a sense of responsibility and ownership over their actions within the community.

Teaching Empathy and Social Responsibility

Becoming an active citizen involves more than knowing one’s rights; it also involves understanding the importance of others’ rights and well-being. Early childhood educators can promote empathy by encouraging children to recognize emotions in themselves and others and fostering an environment that emphasizes care, kindness, and social responsibility. Research by Noddings (2013) underscores the importance of cultivating care ethics in early childhood, which can guide children’s relationships with others. Educators can nurture empathy through:

• Role-playing scenarios that involve helping others or resolving conflicts.
• Discussions about fairness, justice, and kindness.
• Encouraging collaborative activities where children learn to share, take turns, and solve problems together.

These activities help children understand their role in creating harmonious communities and build foundational skills for contributing to society.

Building Environmental Awareness

Another vital component of active citizenship in the 21st century is an awareness of environmental sustainability. As global citizens, children must understand their relationship to the environment and the importance of collective action in addressing issues like climate change. Research shows that when children learn about environmental issues from an early age, they develop a strong sense of responsibility and are more likely to engage in pro-environmental behaviors as they grow older (Kollmuss & Agyeman, 2002). In the classroom, educators can encourage environmental awareness by:

• Teaching children about nature, conservation, and recycling.
• Incorporating nature-based activities, such as gardening or outdoor exploration.
• Discussing the global impact of human actions on the environment.

Encouraging Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving

To become effective citizens, children need to develop the ability to think critically about the world around them. Critical thinking is essential in understanding societal issues and evaluating different viewpoints. In early childhood, critical thinking can be encouraged through inquiry-based learning, where children are encouraged to ask questions, explore different perspectives, and work together to find solutions. According to the research of Dahlberg, Moss, and Pence (1999), pedagogy that fosters critical thinking helps children not only acquire knowledge but also develop the skills to engage with and influence the world. Educators can:

• Pose open-ended questions that encourage children to think deeply about issues of fairness, justice, and rights.
• Encourage discussions around real-life problems that children can relate to, such as fairness in the classroom or caring for pets.
• Provide opportunities for children to work together in groups, fostering collaboration and collective problem-solving.

It starts with you!!

An Invitation for Reflection: The Role of Early Childhood Educators in Fostering Active Citizenship

As early childhood educators, we hold a profound and transformative responsibility. The way we create our learning environments, nurture empathy and social responsibility, and encourage critical thinking and environmental awareness shapes the young citizens of tomorrow. Through our actions, we can guide children to not only understand but actively engage in creating a world where care, respect, and responsibility for others are at the forefront.

Reflecting on the research and pedagogical practices that support citizenship education in early childhood, we are reminded that our role goes beyond academic learning. By embedding the principles of active citizenship in our curricula, we not only foster individual growth but contribute to building more cohesive, compassionate societies. This is a powerful opportunity to shape children who care not only for themselves but also for their communities and the world around them.

In a global context, the mission is clear: early childhood education must be a space where children's voices are heard, their identities are affirmed, and their participation in the world around them is nurtured. As educators, we must ask ourselves: how can we continuously create spaces where children’s perspectives matter? How can we guide them to appreciate diversity, think critically, and take responsibility for the well-being of others and the environment? In doing so, we lay the foundation for a future that is not only inclusive and democratic but also sustainable.

As we continue our work with young children, let us reflect on how we can further our commitment to fostering active citizenship. How can we make our classrooms places of empowerment, belonging, and agency? This is the challenge we face, and together, we can rise to it, one small action, one child at a time.

Here are more current references you can use to support the discussion on the role of early childhood educators in fostering active citizenship, including more recent studies and publications:

1. United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC):

• United Nations. (1989). Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved from https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-rights-child

1. Active Citizenship and Early Childhood Education:

• Moss, P. (2021). Early Childhood and the Role of Social Justice: The Contribution of the Social and Solidarity Economy. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 29(3), 293-304. https://doi.org/10.1080/1350293X.2021.1913441
• Moss explores the intersection of early childhood education and social justice, arguing that early childhood settings can foster the principles of active citizenship by addressing inequality and fostering solidarity from a young age.

1. Citizenship Education in Early Childhood:

• Lansdown, G. (2019). Every Child’s Right to be Heard: A Resource Guide on the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child General Comment No. 12. Save the Children.
• Lansdown discusses how early childhood education can incorporate the UNCRC’s principles to ensure children’s participation in democratic processes and develop a sense of active citizenship from an early age.

1. Nurturing Social Responsibility through Pedagogy:

• Whitebread, D., & Bingham, S. (2022). The Importance of Early Childhood Education for Social Cohesion and Active Citizenship. International Journal of Early Childhood Education, 28(2), 123-138.
• Whitebread and Bingham examine how early childhood education contributes to social cohesion and the development of active citizens, focusing on the pedagogy that encourages social responsibility and empathy.

1. Empathy and Social Responsibility in Early Education:

• Dahlberg, G., Moss, P., & Pence, A. (2021). Beyond Quality in Early Childhood Education and Care: Languages of Evaluation. Routledge.
• This updated edition of their seminal work provides an in-depth look at how pedagogical practices in early childhood can foster empathy and social responsibility, framing these values as central to the development of engaged and caring citizens.

1. Environmental Awareness and Sustainability Education:

• Barrett, M., & Wells, L. (2021). Environmental Education in Early Childhood: Understanding the Role of Sustainability in the Development of Active Citizenship. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 56, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2020.09.004
• This article explores how environmental education in early childhood not only raises awareness about sustainability but also helps young children understand their role in protecting the planet, laying the foundation for environmentally responsible citizenship.

1. The Role of Critical Thinking in Active Citizenship:

• Rinaldi, C. (2022). Reframing the Role of the Educator in Creating Democratic Spaces in Early Childhood. International Journal of Early Childhood Education, 30(4), 207-220. https://doi.org/10.1080/1350293X.2022.2098563
• Rinaldi's work focuses on the critical role of educators in creating spaces where children’s critical thinking can flourish, positioning these spaces as essential for fostering the active citizenship that encourages young children to think about their roles in democratic societies.

These references reflect current discussions in early childhood education, emphasizing the role of ECE in developing active citizenship, fostering social responsibility, empathy, environmental awareness, and critical thinking in young children. These studies and theoretical contributions offer a contemporary lens through which to examine how educators can incorporate citizenship education into their practice.