Why Place Matters for Sustainability Learning in Early Childhood

Have you ever noticed how children respond differently to spaces in and around your service — the garden bed in the corner, the view from the window, the local shop they pass, or even the construction happening down the street?

The environments children inhabit every day, both natural and built, have a profound impact on how they learn, explore, and engage with sustainability concepts.

Place-connected learning transforms these everyday spaces into powerful learning tools, making abstract ideas tangible and meaningful. Understanding why place matters can help educators design experiences that spark curiosity, develop problem-solving, and empower children to take action wherever they are.

The Impact of Place on Learning

Children don't experience learning in isolation — it's shaped by the spaces, relationships, and stories around them. When sustainability is anchored in their specific environment, children:

• Notice patterns and relationships in both natural and built environments (how water moves through gardens and gutters, how people and animals use spaces differently)

• Develop empathy and responsibility for their surroundings, whether that's caring for plants or understanding how their actions affect their community

• Engage more deeply in hands-on, real-world problem-solving that connects to their daily experience

• Build cultural connections through understanding the stories, traditions, and knowledge that different community members bring to caring for place

For example, urban services might explore how their neighbourhood has changed over time, investigate where their water comes from and goes to, or create connections with local businesses. Services with access to natural spaces (bushland reserve, parks, beaches, etc.) might observe seasonal changes, explore habitat relationships, or learn from indigenous knowledge about caring for Country.

From Abstract to Meaningful

When sustainability is grounded in place, it stops being another curriculum requirement and becomes living practice that children, families, and educators co-create together.

Consider how different these approaches feel:

• Abstract: "We should care for the environment"

• Place-connected: "Let's find out why the rainwater pools here after storms and see if we can help it soak into the ground better"

• Abstract: "Recycling is important"

• Place-connected: "Mrs. Chen at the local shop told us where our recycling actually goes—let's investigate what happens next"

• Abstract: "We need to respect cultures"

• Place-connected: "Auntie Dot shared how her grandmother used to gather food from this area before the houses were built—what can we learn about caring for this place?"

💡 Try this: Spend a few minutes observing children in your indoor and outdoor spaces. Which areas do they explore first? What materials, features, or community interactions spark curiosity? Notice both natural elements and built environment features.

The Power of Stories and Relationships

Place is more than physical space—it's shaped by the stories, cultures, and relationships that exist there. Every place holds layers of history, from Traditional Owner knowledge spanning thousands of years to the family stories that current community members bring.

When children understand they're part of an ongoing story of people caring for place, sustainability becomes about relationships and responsibility, not just rules and recycling bins.

From Observation to Action

Recognising the power of place is the first step — the next is reflecting on how it can shape learning experiences and meaningful sustainability projects. Place-connected learning encourages educators to notice, question, and respond, turning observations into actionable insights.

Our Place Connection Guide provides a structured way to explore your service's unique place through five Foundation Questions that help you discover environmental features, cultural connections, community relationships, and opportunities for local action.

📥 Download the Place Connection Guide

Next Steps in the Series

Once you've explored why place matters, the natural next step is to empower children and educators as co-researchers. Our next blog, Empowering Children as Co-Researchers, shows how to involve children in exploring and acting on what they discover in their environment.

Making Place Your Learning Partner

Place is more than a backdrop for learning — it's an active participant shaped by environment, culture, and community. When sustainability is grounded in your specific place, children gain real-world experiences that enhance understanding, curiosity, and genuine engagement with their role in the world.

Next Step: Download the Place Connection Guide to start exploring your service's unique environment and uncover opportunities for practical, meaningful sustainability projects.

📥 Free Download: The Place Connection Guide