Water : early childhood experiences

Abstract

Children are dynamic learners from birth, and the first years are extremely important. Early childhood education is known as the access of basic education and has a role to play in shifting community attitudes and actions about water accessibility and water custom (Tilbury, Coleman and Garlick 2005). The general intention of our study was to determine the effectiveness of an early childhood water conservation project with three-year-old children. The sample consisted of ten, three-year-old children attending a kindergarten setting. In this study, we assessed how educators who work with young children can teach about water conservation through play-based activities. Conclusions were gained through the observations of the children at work in their normal surroundings and through informal interviews which were done with children and then we developed their answers into a concept map. The study showed that the children demonstrated enthusiasm and aptitude towards learning about water conservation and to influence others in doing the same. In school, the children became aware of the use of water, thus changing their attitudes and becoming more responsible.