Studying the replacement of art-based environmental education in the context of nature in overcoming the generational gap between contemporary children and environmental concepts and needs*

Abstract

The spread of environmental crises in the contemporary world has made the necessity of reviewing environmental education methods more evident than ever. In the meantime, children, as the future generation, are considered the most important target group for environmental education. However, the development of digital technologies, urbanization, and the reduction of children's direct interaction with nature have led to the formation of a generational gap between children and the natural environment. The present study, using an analytical-descriptive approach, examines the inefficiency of traditional environmental education and explains the capacity of art-based education in the context of nature. The results of the studies show that environmental art-based education, due to its experience-based, participatory, and emotional nature, can play an effective role in strengthening the sense of belonging to nature, increasing environmental responsibility, and internalizing the concepts of sustainability. Also, successful examples from leading countries such as Finland, Sweden, Japan, and Canada show that combining art, nature, and education is one of the most effective solutions for educating the future generation in the face of environmental crises.