An Exploratory Study of Early Visual Arts Education in Two Hong Kong Kindergartens

This study investigates teachers' beliefs about early visual arts education and implementation in kindergartens through an exploratory study involving 33 teachers in one whole-and one half-day kindergarten. Six classrooms were observed with their teachers participating in subsequent semistructured interviews. Although surveyed teachers reported positively to the beliefs about early visual arts knowledge, implementation, and value for young children, interviewed teachers' responses were more diverse. The study found kindergarten teachers were unprepared for and varied in their implementation of early visual arts teaching at lower and higher class levels. Visual arts training should be enhanced in kindergarten teacher education programs.