The meaning and role of teaching visual art in kindergartens has changed significantly during the last decades. In addition to practical activities, responding to art is also essential component of nowadays visual art education. In Estonian kindergartens, however, teachers still tend to follow traditions from Soviet times when dictated programmes and schemes had to be followed. This article gives an overview, based on the results of three separate researches, of the situation in Estonian kindergartens. Proceeding from there, the most important aspects in the process of improving visual art education are characterised and a set of guidelines is suggested.