Abstract:

During early childhood, the human brain develops more rapidly than it does throughout the rest of life. Rapid development occurs between birth and approximately age five, and it represents the foundation for the development of higher functions.

Scientific literature on early childhood often focuses on analyzing the earliest experiences in children's cognitive, linguistic, and social development. In the Italian preschool curriculum, aesthetic experience is usually linked to a specific field of experience called "Images, Sounds, Colors," where emphasis is placed primarily on the ability to use different languages and materials for self-expression (Italian Ministry of Education, National Guidelines for the Curriculum for Preschool and Primary Schools, 2025). Yet aesthetic experience appears much more pervasive: Aesthetic experience shares some characteristics with play in early childhood: it has intrinsic value and occurs "...whenever we allow our feelings to take full control of our attention. The aesthetic sense, because it completely overwhelms our awareness, heightens the intensity of our feelings. It's like suddenly turning up the volume.” (Flannery, 1977)

Aesthetic experience cannot be separated from sensory experience, which is a fundamental capacity for human beings. Newborns perceive with their entire bodies; research on their perceptive modalities holds several surprises. Several studies have demonstrated in newborns a visual preference for complex stimuli, characterized by symmetry, curves, and mobility; subsequent research has highlighted how very young children prefer stimuli characterized by harmony and regularity, reflecting their preference for golden ratios. A child's aesthetic sense develops before the ability to create even with simple tools: all childhood experiences have an aesthetic component.

The aim of this essay is to answer some questions:
- is it possible to educate about beauty in early childhood?
- Can we speak of an "aesthetic gaze" in early childhood?
- Is it possible to design learning environments that are "beautiful" as well as functional?

Keywords:

Early Childhood, Aesthetic Education, Learning Environment.