Nurturing Environmental Stewards through Preschool Physical Design

Abstract

Environmental stewardship starts with education. This paper aims to discuss how preschools can be used to nurture environmental stewards among Malaysian children. In summary, elements of preschool physical environments can be manipulated to enhance environmental education while landscape elements such as vegetation and topography can be manipulated to maximize interaction with nature. Effective interaction with nature is the most important factor to ensure environmental awareness. Findings are useful for Malaysian designers and policy makers to ensure that preschool's physical settings support environmental education to respond to climate change and preserve the planet for future generations.