Friedrich Wilhelm August Fröbel was born in Oberweisbach, Germany, on April 21, 1782. Froebel began work with the great educator Pestalozzi, teaching middle-school children. It was there that he began to develop his theories of education, in conjunction with his interest in philosophy, mineralogy, forestry and geometry. He called this idea “Kindergarten,” the concept that children can be developed to reach their potential with the care of parents and teachers in a carefully prepared environment.
* Froebel deduced that brain development is most pronounced between birth and age 3.
* Froebel taught that children develop at different rates, so Kindergarten was an ungraded range from ages 3-7.
* Froebel invented play-based education and the concept of the prepared environment.
* Froebel invented both child-centered and whole-child approaches to education, urging educators to “follow the child.”.
* Froebel pioneered the use of music, movement, games and craft activities in an educational setting, including the use of finger plays with children.
* Froebel believed that the capacity of women to give birth gave them a special ability for educating young children. He employed women in his schools and the Kindergarten became one of the first accepted occupations for women outside the home, allowing more women to obtain advanced education and establish careers. All of his early experiences prepared Froebel to make a huge leap in understanding, which forever altered the way the entire world views childhood and education.
- http://froebeleducation.com
