Author: Dr. Gai Lindsay

My PhD explored the visual arts beliefs and pedagogy of early childhood educators. Before entering academia, I worked as a preschool teacher, director and early childhood consultant for 23 years. I currently lecture in the Bachelor of Education - The Early Years at the University of Wollongong.

Art inside, outside and all around: Children as visible and engaged citizens

Ruth Harper - East West Childcare and Kindergarten, Melbourne, Australia Introduction by Dr Gai Lindsay Children are citizens in their communities and have the same rights as all citizens to visit, experience and be seen (and heard) in public spaces, including public transport, libraries, museums and exhibitions. The convention on the Rights of the Child … Continue reading Art inside, outside and all around: Children as visible and engaged citizens →

Layers of Experience: Visual arts explorations with babies and toddlers

Featured

By Sally Maher (with Dr Gai Lindsay) INTRODUCTION Please let me introduce you to Sally Maher, a Bachelor of Education – The Early Years pre-service teacher education student at the University of Wollongong, Australia. AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY: I am a University of Wollongong Student currently studying in the Bachelor of Education-The Early Years degree. While studying, … Continue reading Layers of Experience: Visual arts explorations with babies and toddlers →

VISUAL ARTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONAL LEARNING RESOURCES

Featured

Dr Gai Lindsay Dear art in early childhood friends, It is hard to believe we are nearing the end of yet another year. 2023 is promising to be another busy year – I think perhaps they speed up as I get older. What is very exciting for me is witnessing an increase in the number … Continue reading VISUAL ARTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONAL LEARNING RESOURCES →

Material encounters: Ideas for mark-making and drawing

Featured

Dr. Gai Lindsay, School of Education, University of Wollongong First written to support Camp Australia’s BIG ART COMP 2022, this blog shared a range of mark making and drawing ideas. There are so many rich potentials for mark making. Try new materials and take time to explore their properties. Add them to your own visual … Continue reading Material encounters: Ideas for mark-making and drawing →

HOW TO ENCOURAGE CREATIVITY IN CHILDREN

Dr. Gai Lindsay, School of Education, University of Wollongong First written to support Camp Australia's BIG ART COMP 2022, this blog post presents a range of provocations and ideas regarding how to support and encourage children's creativity. It outlines for parents and educators what to do to support children's creative expression - and what NOT … Continue reading HOW TO ENCOURAGE CREATIVITY IN CHILDREN →

“Who am I in the artistic lives and learning of children?” Exploring and expressing the arts identity of pre-service early childhood teachers

By Dr Gai Lindsay With thanks to EYCA301 Early Years students, School of Education, UOW. My research and teaching focus on the visual arts identity, self-efficacy beliefs and knowledge of early childhood educators. Indeed, my research and practice suggest that it is not unusual to hear early childhood professionals (and the broader population) announce that … Continue reading “Who am I in the artistic lives and learning of children?” Exploring and expressing the arts identity of pre-service early childhood teachers →

Pandemic Arts Inspirations: resources and ideas for early childhood visual arts

By Dr Gai Lindsay (Lecturer, The Early Years, UOW, Australia) During this time of COVID-19 restrictions and physical distancing the importance of the arts in people’s lives has been highly evident. We have listened to music and watched movies. We have danced, sung and played music on balconies and in driveways. Personally, I have done … Continue reading Pandemic Arts Inspirations: resources and ideas for early childhood visual arts →

Shared musings: Colouring-in, templates and worksheets in early childhood settings

By Dr. Gai Lindsay (with excerpts from a bunch of fabulous early childhood practitioners, academics and colleagues - included with permission). This blog aims to expand reflection and contribute to the ongoing discussion about the choices early childhood professional make in relation to stencils, colouring-in and worksheets. I will firstly share excerpts from a professional … Continue reading Shared musings: Colouring-in, templates and worksheets in early childhood settings →

Quality visual arts learning experiences for babies and toddlers: The inspiring power of a book .

by Dr. Gai Lindsay, and featuring "The Power of a Book" documentation by Gabriela Gomez de Torres and Denise Savins (Saigon Kids, Vietnam). It brings me great joy to share this blog post with you. It honours the capacities of very young children to engage meaningfully in arts-focused projects of inquiry by sharing the documentation … Continue reading Quality visual arts learning experiences for babies and toddlers: The inspiring power of a book . →