Animals accompany children from birth-as plush toys, clothing motifs, in books, or as empathetic, speaking characters in children’s TV shows. Consequently, animals and human-animal relationships have become integral to children’s mediated everyday worlds (Schluchter 2023; Nibert 2016). Animated animals such as Peppa Pig, the companions in Pets, the inhabitants of Zootopia, or the dog team in Paw Patrol are especially prominent in contemporary children’s culture (Millis 2023). These characters not only shape children’s self-understanding but also teach them how to relate to the world and others (Myers Jr. & Sauder 2002). This is evident in qualitative interviews from the PoJoMeC project (Politics, Journalism, and Media Competence), which revealed a close link between environmental and justice concerns and animal protection, especially regarding small, seemingly vulnerable creatures. Some children drew on narratives from popular series like Paw Patrol, recognizing themes of environmental issues or power dynamics and applying them to their own interpretations. These findings prompt further questions: What role do animal figures in children’s media play in fostering children’s engagement with political and ethical issues? And how can these mediated experiences be used in education? This contribution reflects on these questions in light of current theoretical discourses on human-animal relationships and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 15 (Life on Land). The focus is on the potential of mediated animal representations to address empathy, responsibility, and justice in early political education, and to stimulate consideration of animal-centered narratives as catalysts for political and sustainability-oriented learning.

Authors:
Raphaela Tkotzyk, TU University Dortmund, Germany
Johanna Lategahn, TU University Dortmund, Germany
Gudrun Marci-Boehncke, TU Dortmund University, Germany

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. phil. Raphaela Tkotzyk is currently an Assistant Professor of German and Media Didactics at the Institute of Diversity Studies, TU Dortmund University, Germany.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Friday Schedule

Bookmark