Seeing things differently: Student teachers and the arts in early childhood settings

In early childhood education, the arts have traditionally been taught based on ideas about developmentally appropriate practice and the creative self-expression of the child. This is despite a shift towards sociocultural theory in New Zealand and many parts of the Western world. This article looks at an initial teacher education arts module that, through hands-on experiences, led student teachers to see and do things differently, and to consider a wide range of possible arts-based learning experiences for children and teachers.