Global Citizenship Education & Young Learners

What might global citizenship education look like for young children? 

We often think about global citizenship education in relation to older children and adults.  But what about those aged 5 or 6 or even those who are under 5? What could this look like for them? Te Whāriki, the Aotearoa New Zealand early childhood curriculum, is an excellent place to start exploring this question. 

Global citizenship education is visible throughout these principles and strands. The curriculum says “As global citizens in a rapidly changing and increasingly connected world, children need to be adaptive, creative and resilient.” But what does this look like in practice? 

Wellbeing strand

The Wellbeing strand of Te Whāriki talks about children demonstrating a sense of responsibility for their own wellbeing and that of others, respect for tikanga and rules about not harming others and the environment. It mentions the importance of understanding the reasons for such rules. These have clear links to the manaakitanga/caring for others and kaitiakitanga/guardianship aspects of global citizenship. 

Contribution strand

Empathy is an important part of being a global citizen. The Contribution strand of Te Whāriki talks about how children learn to appreciate the points of view of others, to empathise and see themselves as a help to others. It mentions how working together for the common good develops a spirit of sharing, togetherness and reciprocity. This strand also suggests that opportunities are provided for children to talk about moral and ethical issues.

Some stories for young children that include moral and/or ethical dilemmas and other global citizenship-related themes include:

• Māori pūrākau 

• fables 

• What Do You Do With An Idea? by Kobi Yamada

• What If Everybody Did That? by Ellen Javernick and Colleen Madden

• Dr Suess stories such as The Butter Battle Book, The Lorax, The Sneetches, Horton Hears a Who! and Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?

• The Koroua and the Mauri Stone by Robyn Kahukiwa 

• The Starfish Story, adapted from The Star Thrower by Loren Eiseley

Communication strand
Without effective communication, effective global citizenship is challenging. The Communication strand of Te Whāriki  mentions use of language to express feelings and attitudes, negotiate, create and retell stories, communicate information and solve problems. These are important aspects of digital citizenship. The strand also talks about the many forms that communication can take. 

Exploration strand

Young children learn by exploring the world around them. It is vital that this exploration includes learning to care for and respect their environment.

Hopefully, this article has given you food for thought on how young children can be involved as global citizens. Other articles will explore in more detail what global citizenship looks like within the Belonging strand and the principles of Te Whāriki. 

(c) 2024