Speculative visions: Stories and slogans for ecopedagogical relations

This article examines the implications of two provocative scholarly slogans—Donna Haraway’s “Make Kin Not Babies” and Sophie Lewis’s “Abolish the Family”—for children, childhoods, and ecopedagogies in the early years. Engaging critically with these concepts, the article highlights their potential to disrupt entrenched norms while acknowledging the discomfort and uncertainty they may evoke. It begins by interrogating the normalized centrality of “the family” in early childhood teacher education and childhood studies, arguing that this focus constrains alternative imaginaries of care and justice. The discussion situates Haraway’s and Lewis’s slogans within broader debates, critiquing how idealized family structures often align with humanist stewardship pedagogy, which presumes humanity’s exceptional capacity to save both children and the planet. By contrast, speculative narratives, such as Netflix’s Sweet Tooth , offer opportunities to reimagine the child, family, and future by emphasizing interconnections between humans and the more-than-human world. These stories open space for counter-imaginaries, inspiring alternative communal formations and transformative practices. Ultimately, the article advocates for a pedagogy of discomfort and generous suspicion as ecopedagogical strategies to interrogate existing care structures and envision more equitable and interconnected futures.