Skip to main content
Log in

Rediscovering Froebel: A Call to Re-examine his Life & Gifts

  • Published:
Early Childhood Education Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This article examines the life of Friedrich Froebel, the founder of the kindergarten movement and his first 10 “gifts to children.” The author suggests that Froebel’s philosophy of German Romanticism caused the waning use of his methods. He continues to state that Froebel’s development of instructional material and structured play-based curricula is worth re-examining during this time for greater accountability and expectation for the early academic success of children.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Braun, S.J., & Edwards, E.P. (1972). History and theory of early childhood education. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Company

    Google Scholar 

  • Brosterman, N. (1997). Inventing kindergarten. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc

    Google Scholar 

  • Froebel, F. W. (1887/1974). The education of man (W. N. Hailman, Trans.). New York: D. Appleton & Company (Original work published 1826)

    Google Scholar 

  • Froebel, F. W. (1906). The student’s Froebel: Adapted from die enziehung der menschheit of F. Froebel (W.H. Herford, Trans.). Boston, MA: Heath Publishers (Original work published 1826)

    Google Scholar 

  • Froebel Web (2004a). Froebel timeline. Retrieved March 4, 2004, from http://www.froebelweb.org/webline.html

  • Froebel Web (2004b). Milton Bradley: Froebel’s kindergarten gifts. Retrieved March 4, 2004, from http://www.froebelweb.org/web2029.html

  • Hewes, D. W. (1990). Historical foundations of early childhood teacher training: The evolution of kindergarten teacher preparation. In B. Spodek & O. N. Saracho (Eds.), Early childhood teacher preparation (pp. 1–22). New York: Teachers College Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Lilley, I. M. (1967). Friedrich Froebel: A selection from his writings. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Ulich, R. (1935). A sequence of educational influences: Traced through unpublished writings of Pestalozzi, Froebel, et al. Cambridge, MA: University Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Shapiro, M. S. (1983). Child’s garden: The kindergarten movement from Froebel to Dewey. University Park, PA: Pennsylvania State University Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiebe, E. (1869/1910). The paradise of childhood. Springfield, MA: Milton Bradley Company

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiggins, K. D. & Smith, N. A. (1895). Froebel’s gifts. Boston, MA: Houghton, Mifflin & Company

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to John P. Manning.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Manning, J.P. Rediscovering Froebel: A Call to Re-examine his Life & Gifts. Early Childhood Educ J 32, 371–376 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-005-0004-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-005-0004-8

KEY WORDS:

Navigation