ABSTRACT

This study explored early childhood educators’ aesthetic teaching beliefs and practices in Yunlin, Chiayi,and Tainan counties in Taiwan. Survey and interview methods were employed. The findings were asfollows. (1) The average of early childhood educators’ aesthetic teaching beliefs and practices was high.Their teaching beliefs were stronger than teaching practices. (2) There were significant differences inaesthetic teaching beliefs and practices in terms of location and educational background. (3) There was asignificantly positive correlation between aesthetic teaching beliefs and practices. (4) The interviewedearly childhood educators agreed with the importance of aesthetic education. They argued to developchildren’s aesthetic feelings through exploring nature and arts, and to guide children in appreciatingvarious arts and local arts. However, their difficulties were a lack of enough knowledge in artsappreciation, and insufficient arts resources in the mountains and rural areas.

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