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All about ... Citizenship in the early years

A short extract from an eight page feature which appeared in the Nursery World magazine, May 2004.

What does citizenship mean in the early years?
Citizenship may not be a term which practitioners immediately associate with the foundation stage. It does not appear in the curriculum guidance document  and is not widely used within early years literature. However, when we consider what citizenship, or being a good citizen, actually means in relation to young children it is very easy to see how important the early years are in laying the foundations for the future.

For a young child, being a 'good citizen' means developing self-awareness and self-confidence, learning how to play and work well with others and recognising his or her place in the wider community.

Even from a very early age young babies are actively seeking to develop relationships with parents or carers by turn taking during early communication and the use of gestures, expressions and body language to engage with the world around them. As they grow from infant to toddler to foundation age child their interaction with the world blossoms and grows. During this phase
'they are constantly re-evaluating their 'sense of self', and, therefore, their social and emotional competence and their ability to establish meaningful relationships with others' (Gandini and Edwards, 2001).

Many of the skills and dispositions formalised within the curriculum definition of citizenship are demonstrated daily by the very youngest members of our society. How we help young children to develop their self awareness and self esteem, to make friendships and build relationships, and to appreciate how their behaviour and actions affect others, will all influence how they develop as future members of society.

At Key Stage 1, citizenship  is part of the broader framework of 'personal, social and health education (PSHE) and citizenship' and aims to 'give pupils the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to lead confident, healthy, independent lives and to become informed, active, responsible citizens.'

This framework is made up of four interrelated strands designed to support children's personal and social development. These are:

  • developing confidence and responsibility and making the most of their abilities;
  • preparing to play an active role as citizens;
  • developing a healthy, safe lifestyle;
  • developing good relationships and respecting the differences between people.

These four strands build directly on young children's experience in the foundation stage. Reviewing the curriculum guidance for the foundation stage identifies the following aspects of learning which underpin citizenship:

  • dispositions and attitudes;
  • self confidence and self esteem;
  • making relationships;
  • behaviour and self control;
  • sense of community;
  • language for communication;
  • language for thinking;
  • exploration and investigation
  • cultures, beliefs and imagination.