ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the early years in three sections, each drawing from theoretical connections and practical experiences in the learning environment to share insights into arts practice for children from birth to eight years of age. Appropriate arts experiences are critical from a baby’s first lullaby to a two-year-old’s experimentation with play dough, and a three-year-old’s dramatisation of a favourite story. Learning through the arts for three- to five-year-olds also builds self-esteem, promotes development of important social and spatial skills and contributes to well-being. Arts education provides children with valuable opportunities to experience and build knowledge and skills in self-expression, imagination, creative and collaborative problem-solving, communication, creation of shared meanings, and respect for self and others. The Australian arts curriculum learning area gives equal recognition to the distinctiveness of dance, drama, media arts, music and visual arts, as well as to the connections between the art forms.
