Examining the problems faced by preschool teachers in the art education process

In today's world, art educators are intensely discussing old and new ideas regarding the position of art in the curriculum and exploring ways to effectively implement artistic activities in early childhood education. Meanwhile, the challenges faced by preschool teachers have also come to the forefront. Daily educational programs provide children with learning experiences through various activities. Among these, art education stands out as one of the most effective and prominent forms of education. Art education helps individuals develop an aesthetic perspective, become sensitive to their environment, express their feelings and thoughts in various ways, better understand the world they live in, and enhance their communication skills. In preschool children, art education supports all areas of development. A comprehensive art education can help children become individuals who perceive the external world, are creative, confident, productive, and strive to positively change and reshape their surroundings. Additionally, it enables children to understand themselves, collaborate with others, and familiarize themselves with both their own culture and other cultures. In this context, it is crucial for preschool teachers to provide encouragement, support, and guidance in all areas of art, create the necessary environmental arrangements to encourage children toward creative arts, and develop programs accordingly. From this perspective, this study aims to evaluate the challenges faced by preschool teachers in art education by gathering their views. The study employs a case study design, which is one of the qualitative research methods. The study group consists of 15 preschool teachers working in the central district of Tunceli province. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The data were analyzed using descriptive content analysis, and the research findings were discussed and interpreted in light of the relevant literature. The study's results identified significant themes such as the definition of art and creativity, issues arising from school administration, problems related to the educational program, relationships with parents and challenges stemming from these relationships, as well as communication with children and identifying their needs. These findings provide valuable insights into understanding the various dynamics of the art education process and developing solutions for these areas.