This study investigated Swedish preschool children's knowledge about the environmental impact of different modes of transportation and whether or not attendance at an eco-certified pre-school contributed to this knowledge. The study also examined the children's self-reported sources of knowledge about this issue. The rationale for focusing the study on modes of transportation relates to young children's familiarity with different forms of transportation and the sustainability issues associated with transportation choices.
Fifty-three children from twelve different preschools in Sweden participated in this study. Six of the preschools were “eco-certified,” which meant they worked explicitly with environmental and sustainability issues. The other six preschools were not eco-certified. Most of the participating children (N=38) attended eco-certified schools. A semi-structured interview format along with related illustrations were used to assess children's understandings about the environmental impact of various modes of transportation (walking, biking, driving a car, and using a bus). The interviews were conducted individually, lasted approximately 5-10 minutes, and included a series of open-ended and close-ended questions.
In response to a question about the meaning of “environment”, about half of the children described the environment “as their world, their home or a place where all people can live.” Many of the children's responses included expressions of a sense of responsibility towards Earth and other living creatures. About half of the children felt that traveling by car was harmful for the environment. Most of the children seemed aware of the fact that harmful gases from cars and buses cause air pollution and that pollution can hurt other living things. Many children also connected the impact of using various modes of transportation with people's health, well-being and safety. While some of the children (52.8%) viewed buses as being environmentally unfriendly, others indicated that traveling by bus was very good for the environment. Their pro-environment explanations included the idea that on the bus “there are seats for many people”. Many children recognized that cycling and walking were environmentally-friendly modes of transportation and good for one's health.
While most of the children (66%) could justify their views about the environmental impact of various modes of transportation, their level of justification varied. Children attending eco-certified preschools tended to offer more complex justification than those at non-eco-certified preschools. According to the children, parents were their main source of knowledge about the environmental impact of different modes of transportation. Some of the children (33.9%) reported acquiring the knowledge by themselves. The children also reported their preschools as being a source of knowledge about sustainability issues. Other than differences in complexity of justification there were no significant differences between the eco-certified and non-eco-certified schools in terms of children's knowledge.
This study indicates that by the time children completed preschool, many had acquired some knowledge about the environmental impact of different modes of transportation and that adults played a role in developing this understanding. As the young children of today “will be the bearers of values and norms that shape future society,” it's important for adults to realize that they have an important role to play in helping children acquire the values and norms consistent with a sustainable future.
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