Developing a multidimensional pedagogical framework for safety education in early childhood: mapping systematic review insights to Sheriff Labrador

Abstract

Early-childhood safety education is essential for reducing children’s vulnerability to everyday hazards, yet existing approaches remain fragmented and lack comprehensive pedagogical structure. This study integrates evidence from a systematic literature review (SLR) and media-based content analysis to develop a multidimensional framework for safety instruction. First, the SLR identified five overarching dimensions of early-childhood safety education—content, pedagogical, developmental, contextual, and implementation—highlighting the complexity of safety learning and the need for coordinated instructional strategies. Second, a thematic content analysis of 35 episodes of the animated series Sheriff Labrador examined how safety content is represented across seven domains: physical environment safety, traffic and pedestrian safety, water safety, personal safety and protection, emergency preparedness, health and hygiene, and rural and agricultural safety. The results showed broad alignment between media representations and research-derived safety domains, demonstrating the program’s potential as an instructional resource. Synthesizing findings from both phases, the study developed the Multidimensional Pedagogical Safety Integration Model (MPSIM), a theory-informed framework grounded in Social Learning Theory, Ecological Systems Theory, Constructivist developmental principles, Behavioral Skills Training, and Experiential Learning Theory. The model provides a structured process for determining what to teach, how to teach it, for whom, under what conditions, and how to sustain learning. Implications for educators, curriculum developers, and policy frameworks are discussed.