Are pre-schoolers too young to be taught about sustainability?

Start small, make it fun and keep at it.

- Coreen Soh

It is the year 2050, and imagine if worst-case climate scenarios have come true. Face masks have become necessary to combat rampant air pollution. Noxious fumes poison the outside world, and the forests that once helped to absorb carbon dioxide are engulfed in wildfire. For about 45 days a year, temperatures soar to above 60 deg C in the hottest parts of the world, making it impossible to stay outside for more than six hours at a time.

Thankfully, this apocalyptic future is still a projection outlined by Paris climate accords negotiators Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac in their 2020 book The Future We Choose. But if emissions are not curbed, it could become reality for our children, who will be in the prime of their lives in 2050.

Educating children about sustainability may be a daunting task as they may not have the literacy skills or awareness to grasp complex topics. But crucially, starting early secures a longer runway to shape the attitudes and habits that will be vital in the climate fight.

The need is urgent. By 2050, Singapore's average daily mean temperatures could rise by up to 2.2 deg C. Public health and food security—a vital issue for a nation that imports over 90 per cent of its food—will be impacted.

On occasions like Earth Day on April 22, it is worth reflecting on what can be done to strengthen sustainability education for the next generation. Parents and educators must do three things: start young, make it fun and work together.

GOOD HABITS START EARLY

In 2024, a study conducted by NTUC First Campus (NFC), one of Singapore's largest preschool operators, found that preschoolers have a good understanding of environmental issues. This awareness translates into green habits—but not always for ecocentric reasons.