A short-term environmental education program increased children’s affinity for natureThis study is based on two basic understandings: (1) promoting children’s biophilia (an innate tendency to affiliate with life and lifelike processes) is one of the most effective ways to strengthen their ties with nature; (2) environmental education programs for children should be in line with their biophilic tendencies, development and learning. The aim of the study was to examine the effectiveness of a nature-based environmental education program on the biophilic tendencies of young children.
Three groups of children from three preschool classes at the same school participated in this study. The total number of participants was 40. The children were between 60 and 66 months old, and all lived in Mersin, Turkey. Each group of children visited a natural area for three hours each day for four consecutive weeks. The children participated in a variety of nature-related activities during their visit to the natural area. Some activities were semi-structured; others consisted of child-initiated free play. Children’s biophilic tendencies were measured before and after they participated in the four-week nature-based environmental education program. The Children’s Biophilia Measure developed by Rice and Torquati (2013) was used for this assessment. This instrument consists of 22 items: eleven reflecting biophilic tendencies; 11 reflecting biophobic (or non-biophilic) tendencies. Items on the instrument reflect four biophilic factors: preferences for being outdoors, enjoyment of the sensorial aspects of nature, curiosity about nature, and interaction with nature.
Assessment results showed that the short-term environmental education program in a natural area was effective in increasing children’s affinity for nature. The change in children’s biophilia levels from before to after the program was statistically significant. There were no significant differences in scores among the three groups, indicating that teacher characteristics did not affect the results.
This study adds support to calls for increased opportunities for children’s engagement with nature. Such engagement – even over a short period – can foster children’s affinity for nature.
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