Friedrich Froebel developed the concept of kindergarten in the early 19th century based on the principle that play and exploration are essential for early childhood education. He opened the first kindergarten in 1840 using structured play activities, songs, and gardening. While his ideas spread widely and influenced many educators, kindergartens have since evolved away from his strict system toward more open-ended, creative play. Froebel believed that play is the highest form of learning for young children and allows them to freely express themselves.

1. Friedrich Froebel
Early Childhood Education
Arslan Shaukat
Yuri Voronin

2. Introductio
n
Born on April 21, 1782 in Weinmar, Germany.
Studied Mathematics and Languages.
Taught at progressive model school in Frankfurt that was advocated
by the Swiss Educator Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi.
Attended University of Gӧttingen
Opened his own school at Griesheim in Thuringia in 1816.

3. Contributions and Ideas
DEVELOPED THE
KINDERGARTEN SYSTEM
THAT FOCUSED ON
PLAY WITH USE OF PLAY
MATERIALS AND
ACTIVITIES.
HE BELIEVED HIGHLY IN
‘UNITY.’
PUBLISHED A
COLLECTION OF
MOTHER-PLAY AND
NURSERY SCHOOL
SONGS. 1843
THE EDUCATION OF
MAN (1826)-

4. Kindergarten
First
Kindergarten
opened on
June 28, 1840.
The Kindergarten
name, indicates a
garden for
children and a
garden of
children.
Three parts of
Kindergarten-Toys for play
-Games and
dancing for healthy
activity
-Growing and
observing plants in
a garden to
stimulate
awareness of
natural world.
System of
categories and
series of gifts.
The gifts are intended to give the child from time
to time new universal aspects of the external
world, suited to a child's development.
The occupations, on the other hand, furnish
material for practice in certain phases of the skill

5. Effects on Education
He developed the idea of early education for kids in the course of 20 years
between 1830 till 1852.
Occupations-games and free self-activity, creativity, social participation, motor
expression.
Theory that self-activity and play are essential factors in child education.
In 1851 Prussia(Germany) Kindergarten was banned because of anti-liberal
views of government.

6. Quotes
“Play is the highest expression of
human development in childhood for
it alone is the free expression of what
is in a child's soul.”
“Play is the highest level of child
development . It gives joy, freedom,
contentment, inner and outer rest,
peace with the world The plays of
childhood are the germinal leaves of
all later life.”
“Children are like tiny flowers; they are
varied and need care, but each is
beautiful alone and glorious when
seen in the community of peers.”

7. Kindergarten idea spreads
In the 1850s, many German teachers emmigrate from Prussia, and bring
Froebel's ideas with them
It becomes particularly popular in German communities of UK, Netherlands, and
USA.

8. Elizabeth Peabody & Milton Bradley
1860 – Elizabeth Peabody studies
Froebel's ideas, and opens the first
common kindergarten in Boston.
By 1867 the Prussian ban is lifted, and
educators around the world begin
expanding on his ideas.
To bring the Froebelian toys to a wider
audience, toymakers such as Milton
Bradley are persuaded to help.

9. The pushback
However, many were concerned about the prescribed nature of play in
Froebel's system, and call for more creativity in childrens' education
This happens to align with the manufacturers' desire to expand the line
of the “gifts”

10. Influence on Art
Majority of prominent abstract and modernist artists of the early 20th
century
attribute their view and style to the simplicity of Froebel's toys and gardens
It is easily spotted in the simple, geometric forms in the art of the era.

11. Influence on Art – Cont.

12. ...What happened?
The structured and planned nature of play was criticised as “stifling creativity in
children”
There are concerns about child safety around gardening and other similar tools
Debate over the results of replacing learning from the environment by the “gifts”
As a result, most kindergartens today have instead evolved to become daycare –
with the exception of select schools in Germany, Japan, Korea, and USA

13. Thank you for your
Attention
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questions.