幼兒時期的美術館參觀經驗,往往影響日後對於美術館的觀感及參觀行為。幼兒時期親近美術館,融入美術館的學習環境,將奠定日後個人在美術館中終身學習的基礎。近年來國內以美術館為研究場域的觀眾研究已開始萌現,但文獻中鮮少針對幼兒的美術館學習進行探究。本文首先從美術館使命、終身學習及美術館行銷等角度,剖析美術館開發幼兒觀眾之必要性。接著,彙整及分析與幼兒相關之學習理論,並以文獻回顧法綜合整理國內外美術館幼兒觀眾研究之發現,釐清幼兒美術館學習經驗的樣貌。最後,則針對美國史密森機構的幼兒教育中心、托列多美術館、明尼蘇達兒童博物館等之展示設施及教育服務進行探討,據此提出美術館規劃幼兒美術館學習之建議。
The museum experience that one receives during his/her early childhood influences his/her later perceptions and expectations for art museums. Frequent visitation may enhance young children's life-long commitment to art museums. Domestic researches on art museums have emerged these years, yet amounts of young children’s learning in art museums are largely ignored. This essay reviews the current literature on young children’s learning in an art museum setting from the perspectives of missions of art museums, and attempts to examine the necessities of developing art museums to better accommodate young audiences. Meanwhile, audience researches as well as related theoretical issues on young children’s learning are discussed. Finally, it is concluded with applicable strategies to enhance young children's learning from the implications of exhibitions and educational initiatives from three studied cases.