"Jingcai Empowerment, Youthful Qianxinqian Journey": The Three-Province Kindergarten Teachers' Science and Aesthetic Education Training Conference Successfully Held

Opening Ceremony

      The conference officially opened on the morning of 6 month 24. The opening ceremony was hosted by Zhang Yeqing, Deputy General Manager of Educational Science and Culture Publishing House.

Sui Hongqi, Director of the Fundraising Department at the China Education Development Foundation, first reaffirmed the foundation's strategic positioning and vision to promote educational equity and improve quality. He then outlined the value and implementation of the New Sprout Public Welfare Science and Aesthetics Project. Finally, he offered three expectations for the attending principals and teachers: cherish learning opportunities, strengthen mutual learning and exchange, and apply knowledge practically. We look forward to extending the benefits of public welfare to more children!

Wang Ligang, Assistant to the General Manager and Director of Social Responsibility at Dan Shui Quan (Beijing) Investment Management Co., Ltd., highlighted the importance of preschool education and the significance of scientific and aesthetic enlightenment under the policies of "strengthening science education" and "implementing the aesthetic immersion plan." He emphasized that science and aesthetics are key drivers for high-quality development in preschool education in the new era. New Seed Public Welfare will adopt the model of "teaching to promote research, research to promote learning, and learning to drive development" to advance "bringing aesthetics back to life" and cultivate a kindergarten teaching workforce that dares to do science, knows how to do science, and loves doing science.

Zheng Haojie, Director of the Curriculum and Teaching Materials Research Center at the National Academy of Educational Sciences, emphasized in his opening remarks that educational equity is a foundational element in building an education powerhouse, while public welfare empowerment is a key driver for balanced preschool development. The center will continue to leverage its full-chain strengths in research, curriculum, training, and digital resources to deepen long-term collaborations with preschool education sectors in Qinghai, Xinjiang, and Guizhou. Together with education colleagues across the region, we are committed to advancing high-quality and distinctive growth in regional preschool education.

Keynote

The keynote session was moderated by Zhao Jianming, Director of the Children's Editorial Department at Educational Science Publishing House.

Mr. Gu Mingyuan delivered a report titled "Turning Kindergartens into Places of Joy." He emphasized that the core of early childhood education is learning through play, allowing children to naturally acquire knowledge while having fun. We must adhere to the principle of avoiding premature academicization, guiding children to grow happily through daily life and play. He stressed that early childhood educators should maintain a childlike heart and empathy, cherish and protect children's curiosity and imagination, and encourage them to continuously raise and discover new questions. At the same time, teachers should be skilled at recognizing each child's unique traits and strengths, nurturing their interests, and safeguarding their physical and mental well-being. Mr. Gu also noted that education is a slow process and should not be rushed for quick gains. In the age of artificial intelligence, AI technology can assist teachers in lesson planning and generating instructional materials, but it cannot replace the emotional connection and intellectual exchange between teachers and students.

At the conclusion of the report, Mr. Gu Mingyuan presented a hand-inscribed plaque to Ms. Chen Xiaodan, Chairperson of Beijing Yinze Public Welfare Foundation, and Mr. Wang Ligang, Public Welfare Representative of Dan Shui Quan (Beijing) Investment Management Co., Ltd. The plaque bears the inscription: "Let Great Love Gather Energy; Let Life Shine." This gesture reflected his recognition of the foundation's spirit of great love and his hope for its continued support in early childhood development. Simultaneously, together with Mr. Zheng Haojie, Director of the Curriculum and Teaching Materials Research Center at the National Institute of Education Sciences, Mr. Gu presented copies of *The Five Disciplines of Teachers*—a seminal work published by Educational Science Publishing House—to representatives from education bureaus across seven districts and counties. He encouraged educators in these regions to strengthen their professional self-cultivation, embrace continuous learning and innovation, and bring the "Five Disciplines" back to their communities and into every kindergarten, thereby supporting more teachers in becoming outstanding educators of the new era.

Professor Tan Chuanbao delivered a presentation titled "Aesthetic Education as an End and as a Curriculum: Understanding and Implementing the Concept of Disciplinary Aesthetic Education." He emphasized that integrating aesthetic education across all domains is essential for China's strategic transformation and addressing the principal contradictions of the new era. Building a disciplinary aesthetic education system that spans early childhood through higher education and covers all subjects not only significantly expands the scope and timing of school-based aesthetic education but also substantially enhances teaching effectiveness across disciplines and optimizes the overall educational ecosystem. He called on teachers present to proactively integrate aesthetic education into daily instruction, identifying it as a key strategy to address the premature academicization of preschool education. Attendees nodded in agreement, gaining a deeper understanding of the significance of implementing aesthetic education immersion initiatives at the preschool level.

Associate Professor Zhang Jun delivered a keynote address titled "Future-Oriented Science Education for Kindergartens." Drawing from the critical skills needed in society amid AI development, he analyzed the transformation of kindergarten science education, advocating a shift away from rote knowledge transmission toward cultivating engineering and scientific thinking centered on real-world problem-solving. He emphasized implementation pathways that integrate life-based learning, play-based approaches, and the appropriate use of digital technology, offering valuable insights to the attending teachers. When discussing an ideal model for kindergarten science education, he expressed strong optimism for its future, stating: "Science is not an isolated content area but part of children's everyday world. Scientific learning is neither rigid nor formulaic; it is fueled by passion and creativity—the enduring human spirit that cannot be extinguished in the age of artificial intelligence," leaving the audience deeply inspired.

Professor Teng Jun delivered a report titled "Cultivating Open Minds, Inspiring Young Hearts in Science and Art." By tracing landmark achievements of science and art throughout the development of global education centers, she articulated two key insights: the rise of world education hubs has always coincided with scientific and artistic flourishing, while cross-cultural exchange and mutual learning further advance both fields. Based on this, she advocated for nurturing open-mindedness in early childhood and integrating science and art education from preschool onward to lay a solid foundation for children's holistic development. Professor Teng's expansive historical perspective offered teachers fresh new dimensions for reflection.