Reconceptualizing civic education for young children: Recognizing embodied civic action

• This paper reports on a study that observed young children in a pre-school setting to examine the everyday ways that children’s agency allowed them to act civically.
• The authors found that shared practices such as mealtimes were important opportunities for children to show care and concern for one another, and problem solve.
• The authors argue that civic education need not focus purely on imparting knowledge about national anthems, flags and political participation.
• An alternate view of civic education is advocated for, one that focuses on the social aspects of civics, such as building community through showing care, concern and acting on behalf of others.
• Educators can recognise the ways in which children’s actions may demonstrate civic capabilities and develop community, and intentionally create opportunities for young people to use agency and enact communitarianism.

Publication

Payne, K. A., Adair, J. K., Colegrove, K. S. S., Lee, S., Falkner, A., McManus, M., & Sachdeva, S. (2020). Reconceptualizing civic education for young children: Recognizing embodied civic action. Education, Citizenship and Social Justice, 15(1), 35–46. https://doi.org/10.1177/1746197919858359