About the Book
Combining theoretical inspiration, practical guidance, and visual examples, this book empowers educators to implement rich visual arts experiences and foster joyful, art-centered learning environments with children.
Drawing upon decades of experience and research, the authors offer rich, practical, plain English information alongside inspiring images, reflection points, and visual examples to support educators to understand the WHY, WHAT, and HOW of designing and delivering a rich visual arts curriculum for and with young children. Making no assumptions about prior visual arts knowledge or experience, this informative, visually beautiful book connects theory and practice, while providing guidance to inspire and inform interactions with children and visual arts materials in meaningful ways.
This is an essential resource for educators, teachers, parents, students or academics aiming to enhance their teaching practices and enrich children's learning through visual arts. Whether you are new to visual arts education or looking to deepen your practice, this book will inspire and equip you to support children's creative and expressive potential.
Table of Contents:
PART 1: WHY the visual arts are important for young children’s education and for educator’s work with children
1. Introduction
2. Why visual arts education matters
3. Theories, philosophies and approaches to inspire visual arts pedagogy
4. Examining and building a personal visual arts identity
PART 2: WHAT to do and think about when developing a visual arts curriculum
5. Artful play and inquirt: The role of the educator
6. Aesthetic encounters and material research
7. The visual arts in children's projects of inquiry
8. Art in and with the community
9. Engaging with the world of art, artists and galleries
10. Creating inspiring visual arts spaces
PART 3: THE HOW: Practical visual arts knowledge and methods
Part 3 Introduction
3.1 Drawing and Mark Making
3.2 Painting
3.3 Printmaking
3.4 Clay
3.5 Ephemeral Art and loose parts
3.6 Collage and assembly
3.7 Traditional crafts and artisan processes
3.8 Photography, light and lenses
Part 3 References
About the Author :
Gai Lindsay is passionate about art and early childhood education, with long-term experience as a preschool teacher, academic, consultant, and art-maker. Her work focuses on visual arts pedagogy and educator self-efficacy, aiming to inspire children and educators alike to embrace lifelong joy through arts-inspired learning and play.
Sarah Probine is an academic and early childhood researcher based in Aotearoa New Zealand. Her work examines visual arts pedagogy and collaborative inquiry approaches, highlighting their capacity to foster intersubjectivity and interconnectedness in early childhood education.
Rachel Denee is a teacher and academic who is interested in visual arts in early childhood contexts. Her research is grounded in her experience in the early childhood sector as a teacher, leader, facilitator, and co-researcher. Rachel studies visual arts pedagogy, leadership, curriculum, and professional learning for teachers.
Denise Savins is an Early Childhood Teacher from Northern New South Wales, Australia. Denise also holds a degree in Visual Arts and has worked for a number of years as an art educator/atelierista with children aged 2–6 years. She is passionate about fostering children’s learning, creativity, and self-expression through meaningful visual arts pedagogy.
Review :
“This outstanding book is a compelling read for all early childhood educators offering a vibrant and engaging insight into the visual arts as essential and vital languages of young children. It is a book which raises the profile of the visual arts, the quality of practice and its impact on young children’s learning by empowering its reader to reflect on their pedagogy, practice and provision. It is a book woven with theoretical perspectives and expert practical guidance which will become a constant reference for all working in early childhood education.”
Debi Keyte-Hartland, Pedagogical Early Childhood Consultant & Artist-Educator, UK
“Art Play and Inquiry makes an invaluable contribution to early childhood literature, offering a rich theoretical understanding of the value of early childhood arts practice and providing in-depth knowledge to support adults to confidently embed engaging visual art practices. Playful inquiry is central. Children expressing their ideas and feelings, making decisions and choices and in turn finding their voice, generating new ideas and making sense of their world. This book will directly impact practice leading to more children taking delight and flourishing through the visual arts. Highly recommended reading.”
Pete Moorhouse, Early Childhood Creative Consultant, UK
“This book is an essential resource for every early childhood methods class. It seamlessly bridges theory and practice, making it the perfect guide for both preservice and experienced educators. For teachers hesitant about introducing art to young children, it offers empowering strategies and builds confidence. Packed with practical insights and easy-to-implement ideas, it equips educators with strategies to inspire creativity in the classroom. Whether you're just starting out or have years of experience, this book will be invaluable in fostering a dynamic, engaging learning environment for young learners.”
Kathy Danko-McGhee, PhD, First Encounters: An Art Studio for Little Ones, USA
“This volume offers visionary and hopeful support for early childhood educators. Rich with pedagogical and artistic guidance it’s a valuable companion in creating and engaging in meaningful art experiences together with children and for ensuring the arts have a central place in children’s daily lives. The authors encourage educators to be fully present and nurture their own artistries while opening joyful, playful, vibrant and expansive spaces for children’s curiosity, creativity, and artistic expression. It’s a beautiful invitation for adults and children alike to see the arts as sites of personal and relational flourishing.”
Sylvia Kind, PhD, Capilano University, Canada
“This is a ‘must read’ text for every early childhood educator. It is a comprehensive, accessible and inspirational account of the ‘why, what and how’ of visual art in early childhood. It takes the reader by the hand and walks them through the theories and practices that underpin the magic of making art. It finishes with a treasure chest of art materials, activities and techniques; the ‘how’ of teaching the visual arts. This text is guaranteed to empower educators to embrace the visual arts as a leading activity for learning.”
Margaret Brooks, Associate Professor Early Childhood Education (retired), Australia
“The authors offer a varied set of lenses through which to understand the inestimable value of Art with young children. Students of education, teachers, and college educators will find a unifying thread weaving the practice of art activity with major theoretical trends in the field from around the world. This book represents a major contribution to the field of early childhood education.”
Sylvia Chard, Professor Emeritus at the University of Alberta, Canada
“This exciting new book provides comprehensive coverage of all the things that are needed to provide high quality art education for young children. Backed up with current education theory and research, and illustrated with beautiful examples of good practice, this book is essential reading for practicing teachers as well as students in training. Parents of young children and people with an interest in art education will also find it helpful for understanding the importance of art education in an ever changing world.”
Lisa Terreni, PhD, Arts advocate and adviser, New Zealand
