Evaluation of an educational activity to promote environmentally sustainable behaviors and awareness of health effects on climate change in 60- 72 month old children

The aim of this study was to assess the level of parents' awareness of global climate change, environmentally sustainable behaviors of 60-72 month old children and the effectiveness of an educational programme for children regarding the awareness on health effects of climate change. The study is an intervention study conducted between January 2024 and April 2024 among 60-72 month old children attending the day care centre and nurseries of Eskişehir Odunpazarı Municipality. It was calculated that at least 36 people should be in the intervention group, and 41 children were included in the study. The "Global Climate Change Awareness Scale" was used to assess parents' awareness of climate change and the "Environmental Sustainability Scale for 60-72 Month Old Children" was used to assess children's environmentally sustainable behavior. In addition, two separate statements on the "Global Impact of Climate Change on Health" were prepared to measure parents' and knowledge of global climate change's impact on health. A training activity was developed for the intervention phase of the research. The sustainability scale scores were higher for children who were aged between 68-72 months, who had commenced preschool education by or before 60 months, whose mothers achieved a university or higher level education, who had previously heard of climate change, who enjoyed spending time in nature and who reported engaging in environmental conservation. There was a positive correlation between parents' awareness of global climate change and children's awareness of sustainability (p<0.001). The children's scores on the Environmental Sustainability Scale for 60-72 Month- old Children were higher after the intervention (AI) 1 and AI2 than before the intervention (p<0.001). It was found that the educational activity carried out raised children's awareness of sustainability and the health effects of climate change.