What does Sustainability Actually Mean in Early Childhood Education? - Dr Diane Boyd's Three Pillars (Ep27)

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Dr Diane Boyd Explains the Three Pillars Beyond Environmental Focus

Join Lili-Ann and Bronwyn on 'For Your Ears for the Early Years' podcast for an inspiring conversation with Dr Diane Boyd, an award-winning expert in sustainability within early childhood education. Broadcasting from sunny Wirral in the UK, Diane shares her remarkable journey from classroom teacher to sustainability advocate, sparked by a pivotal encounter with Professor Julie Davis in 2015.

In this comprehensive episode, Diane explores the interconnected nature of sustainability's three pillars—environmental, social-cultural, and economic—challenging listeners to move beyond traditional environmental-only perspectives. She reveals how early childhood pioneers like Froebel, Montessori, and McMillan were sustainability advocates long before the term existed, weaving their philosophies into modern practice.

Discover Diane's groundbreaking work, including:

• The Legacy Café project brings elderly wisdom keepers into children's centres
• A Welsh school where 3-year-olds run their own businesses whilst learning about profit, loss, and community care
• Place-based learning that transforms high streets, beaches, and woodlands into rich educational environments
• Her development of SDG resources is now being adapted across multiple countries

Diane's approach emphasises children as competent questioners and change-makers, capable of understanding complex social issues from homelessness to economic sustainability. She demonstrates that sustainability education isn't an add-on, but rather the very foundation of quality early childhood practice.

This episode offers practical provocations for educators whilst examining policy differences across the UK's devolved nations. Diane's vision for the future sees sustainability and play as inseparable partners in early childhood education.

A must-listen for educators seeking to understand how young children can become voices for the planet whilst developing as confident, agentic global citizens.

For more information and to follow Project Sustainability Collective on LinkedIn, go to: https://bit.ly/3SXAYTh

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For more information about Lili-Ann Kriegler, go to:

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I respect the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land of the Kulin Nation groups, the Boonwurrung and Bunurong people, where I live, learn, and work.

Lili-Ann Kriegler (B. A Hons, H. Dip. Ed, M.Ed.) is an award-winning author and Melbourne-based education consultant. Her books are 'The Power of Play' for educators and 'Roots and Wings' for parents. Lili-Ann’ is a leader in early childhood education (birth to years), leadership and optimising human thinking and cognition. She runs her consultancy, Kriegler-Education. She is passionate about the early childhood sector and believes in the transformational power of education.
Find out more at https://www.kriegler-education.com