Research Article

Early childhood education for sustainable development: Development of a checklist based on the 7R framework

Number: 79 July 31, 2026
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Early childhood education for sustainable development: Development of a checklist based on the 7R framework

Abstract

The aim of this study is to develop an observation-based checklist to assess young children’s (60–72 months) sustainable development behaviors based on the 7R framework proposed by the OMEP (Respect, Rethink, Reflect, Recycle, Redistribute, Reduce, Reuse) and to provide initial evidence of its structural validity. The study employed a quantitative research design, and the theoretically defined seven-dimensional structure was tested using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Data were collected from 448 children evaluated through preschool teachers’ observations across Türkiye. The instrument, initially consisting of 51 items, was reduced to 35 items. Second-order CFA results indicated acceptable model fit (χ²/df = 3.03; RMSEA = .067; SRMR = .04) and supported the proposed structure.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Early Childhood Education

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

July 31, 2026

Submission Date

March 28, 2026

Acceptance Date

July 23, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: 79

APA
Toker, G. G., Alisinanoğlu, F., & Yılmaz Uysal, S. (2026). Early childhood education for sustainable development: Development of a checklist based on the 7R framework. Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Education Faculty, 79, 123-145. https://doi.org/10.21764/maeuefd.1918185
AMA
1.Toker GG, Alisinanoğlu F, Yılmaz Uysal S. Early childhood education for sustainable development: Development of a checklist based on the 7R framework. Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Education Faculty. 2026;(79):123-145. doi:10.21764/maeuefd.1918185
Chicago
Toker, Gülcan Gül, Fatma Alisinanoğlu, and Simge Yılmaz Uysal. 2026. “Early Childhood Education for Sustainable Development: Development of a Checklist Based on the 7R Framework”. Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Education Faculty, nos. 79: 123-45. https://doi.org/10.21764/maeuefd.1918185.
EndNote
Toker GG, Alisinanoğlu F, Yılmaz Uysal S (July 1, 2026) Early childhood education for sustainable development: Development of a checklist based on the 7R framework. Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Education Faculty 79 123–145.
IEEE
[1]G. G. Toker, F. Alisinanoğlu, and S. Yılmaz Uysal, “Early childhood education for sustainable development: Development of a checklist based on the 7R framework”, Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Education Faculty, no. 79, pp. 123–145, July 2026, doi: 10.21764/maeuefd.1918185.
ISNAD
Toker, Gülcan Gül - Alisinanoğlu, Fatma - Yılmaz Uysal, Simge. “Early Childhood Education for Sustainable Development: Development of a Checklist Based on the 7R Framework”. Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Education Faculty. 79 (July 1, 2026): 123-145. https://doi.org/10.21764/maeuefd.1918185.
JAMA
1.Toker GG, Alisinanoğlu F, Yılmaz Uysal S. Early childhood education for sustainable development: Development of a checklist based on the 7R framework. Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Education Faculty. 2026;:123–145.
MLA
Toker, Gülcan Gül, et al. “Early Childhood Education for Sustainable Development: Development of a Checklist Based on the 7R Framework”. Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Education Faculty, no. 79, July 2026, pp. 123-45, doi:10.21764/maeuefd.1918185.
Vancouver
1.Gülcan Gül Toker, Fatma Alisinanoğlu, Simge Yılmaz Uysal. Early childhood education for sustainable development: Development of a checklist based on the 7R framework. Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Education Faculty. 2026 Jul. 1;(79):123-45. doi:10.21764/maeuefd.1918185

Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Education Faculty

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