The Bloomsbury Handbook to Friedrich Froebel

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Friedrich Froebel (1782 1852), the inventor of kindergarten, was one of the most influential educational thinkers of the 19th century. This book showcases the cutting-edge work being undertaken around the world inspired by this pioneer of early childhood education and shows the many ways in which Froebels work has been applied and extended. It presents a wealth of Froebelian expertise on topics including pedagogy and curriculum, history, architecture, neuroscience, peace and religious education and links Froebels theories to other thinkers including John Dewey, Michel Foucault, Paulo Freire, Aili Helenius and Chen Heqin. It highlights what Froebel means today in a variety of settings around the world and includes contributions from academics and practitioners based in North and South America, Europe, Australasia, Africa and Asia.

Reviews

A must for all serious Froebel scholars and for all early childhood professionals wanting to understand the origins of our values and beliefs about pedagogies with young children. The authors show how Froebels teachings, deeply rooted in the 19th century, have been translated, transformed, and culturally contextualized over time and geographical space, yet, remain uniquely Froebelian and highly relevant today. -- Mary Benson Mcmullen, Professor of Early Childhood Education, Indiana University, USA
A state of the art compendium of the historical and contemporary significance of Friedrich Froebels principles and practice in early childhood education and beyond. Readers new to Froebels work and influence will find a comprehensive introduction whilst familiar educators and scholars will enjoy rigorous debate and new encounters with the application and adaptation of Froebels ideas across continents and cultures. -- Alison Clark, Professor of Early Childhood Education, University of South-Eastern Norway, Norway

Author Bio

Tina Bruce CBE is a Froebel trained teacher and Vice President of BAECE: Early Education. She is the author of Friedrich Froebel: A Critical Introduction to Key Themes and Debates (Bloomsbury, 2021).

Yukiyo Nishida is Lecturer of Early Childhood Education at the University of Aberdeen, UK.

Sacha Powell is CEO of the Froebel Trust, UK, a charity that supports research and practice development in early childhood education based on Froebelian principles.

Helge Wasmuth is Professor of Early Childhood and Childhood Education at Mercy College, USA. He is co-author of Finding Froebel: The Man who Invented Kindergarten (Bloomsbury, 2023).

Jane Whinnett MBE is a former nursery headteacher, Froebel Trust Travelling Tutor and an Associate Tutor for University of Edinburgh, UK.