Early childhood education for sustainable development in the Nordic national curricula: status and content

This study explores how early childhood education for sustainability (ECEfS) is directly framed in the Nordic curriculum. The study’s theoretical background builds on theories and research viewing ECEfS as a comprehensive approach which integrates the three pillars of sustainability. To explore the status of ECEfS, Nordic curricula were analysed using qualitative content analysis, specifically examining sustainability concepts and the contexts of these concepts in relation to the sustainability pillars. The findings reveal that sustainability education is included in the Nordic national curricula for early childhood education and care (ECEC), but the emphasis varies: ecological and economic sustainability were prioritised over sociocultural sustainability, which is scarcely addressed in some curricula. Incorporating the concept of sustainability into national curricula could encourage teachers to recognise its comprehensive value beyond nature conservation. Additional research is needed to guide the implementation of ECEfS as well as teachers’ understanding of policy documents.