ABSTRACT

A major influence on the education of young children since the late nineteenth century, the philosophical and practical tenets of Frobelian early childhood education require urgent re-articulation in light of current debate and developments in research and policy.

This seminal Handbook responds to this need, drawing together a unique and valuable body of literature, research and case studies to make explicit the specific features of Froebelian education and provide key impulses for future research and practice in this area. Chapters present the sometimes divergent perspectives of leading educationalists, and so offer a uniquely comprehensive overview of Froebelian approaches and their interaction with contemporary policies and insights.

The Handbook explores five significant areas of scholarship and practice:

  • Part I examines the original Froebelian principles and practices in early childhood education in different parts of the world.

  • Part II presents case studies, development projects and practitioner publications exploring Froebelian approaches to early childhood education.

  • Part III details research studies which document, debate and evaluate Froebelian approaches.

  • Part IV considers how Froebelian approaches might be sustained and adapted for use in various cultural contexts across the world.

  • Part V offers a re-articulation of research and policy.

An essential resource for in-service and future practitioners, researchers and policy-makers involved in early childhood education, this key text will promote discussion, aid analysis and further the practical application of Frobelian principles.

chapter |4 pages

Introduction

part I|78 pages

An examination of the original Froebelian principles and practices in early childhood education in different parts of the world

chapter 2|5 pages

Tracing Froebel’s legacy

The spread of the kindergarten movement across Europe and beyond and his influence on educators

chapter 3|4 pages

The life of the Froebel Archive

A story

chapter 4|10 pages

Connectedness in Froebel’s philosophy

Women, parents, community and unity

chapter 6|4 pages

‘Social and conceptual spaces – Froebelian geographies’

Project for the Froebel Archive collection located at the University of Roehampton

chapter 8|4 pages

The transfer, translation and transformation of Froebelian theory and practice

Annie L. Howe and her Glory Kindergarten and Teacher Training School in Kobe, Japan, 1889–1929

chapter 9|11 pages

Froebel is dead; long live Froebel!

The National Froebel Foundation and English education

chapter 10|11 pages

Working with the 10 principles of early childhood education

Revaluing stories and imagination for children’s biliteracy learning in South Africa

part II|58 pages

Case studies, development projects and practitioner publications exploring Froebelian approaches to early childhood education

chapter 12|6 pages

Elinor Goldschmied (1910–2009)

Let the past inform the present!

chapter 13|5 pages

The Froebel Blockplay Research Project

Reflections from a practitioner researcher 25 years on

chapter 20|3 pages

Case study

Another time, another place: developing Social Studies in a nursery school

part III|60 pages

Research studies documenting, debating and evaluating Froebelian approaches

chapter 21|5 pages

Ownership and autonomy in early learning

A brief review of the Froebel Research Fellowship Project 2002–2015

chapter 22|6 pages

Caring for babies and children under three

The contribution of Froebelian principles

chapter 24|4 pages

Living with children

A Froebelian approach to working with families and communities

chapter 28|4 pages

Using Froebelian teacher narratives in early years teacher training in England

History, identity and reflective practice

chapter 29|10 pages

How do twenty-first century teacher trainees connect their practice to Froebel’s pedagogic principles?

A case study of early childhood specialists at the University of Roehampton, Froebel College, 2011–2015

part IV|82 pages

Sustaining and handing on the Froebelian approach to early childhood education in ways fit for purpose in a variety of cultural contexts across the world

chapter 31|8 pages

The Froebel Educational Institute

Influential tutors and Froebelian PhD graduates

chapter 34|14 pages

Communities of Froebelian practice

Strawberry runners and the Edinburgh Froebel Network

chapter 37|9 pages

The International Froebel Society

chapter 38|5 pages

From gutter to sand pile

Discourses of space and place in interventions in working-class children’s play

chapter 39|14 pages

A Froebelian journey

From Froebel to Froebel (a reflecting on the Froebel Travelling Tutors pilot course)