MUSIC AND THE ARTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION: STRATEGIES FOR CONFLICT MANAGEMENT AND RAISING AWARENESS OF SUSTAINABILITY

Abstract

This article describes the implementation of projects carried out as part of the Master's Degree in Pre-School Education. Music and the arts are privileged languages of expression, communication and meaning construction. The study sought to analyse their contribution as pedagogical strategies that promote conflict management and raise awareness of sustainability. In the nursery, The Power of Music in Conflict Management focused on mediating social interactions and emotional regulation, seeking to understand how musical experiences foster harmonious environments and reduce conflict situations. In the kindergarten, Children in Action: Arts and Sounds for a Happy Planet focused on music, arts and environmental education, aiming to promote attitudes of respect for the environment and the construction of values associated with sustainability. Action research allowed for observation, planning, intervention, reflection, and data collection, including participant observation, reflective records, children's productions, and pedagogical documentation. The analysis shows that music and the arts play a significant role in children's socio-emotional development, contributing to conflict management, active involvement in learning and the internalisation of values related to sustainability. The results reinforce the relevance of the intentional integration of artistic languages into the everyday educational life of children.