Early Childhood Education in Germany : Exploring Historical Developments and Theoretical Issues

This book draws on the perspectives of leading German scholars to provide a systematic overview of early childhood education and care (ECEC) in Germany, furthering international understanding of the complexities involved in ECEC topics in Germany.

The book provides a unique insight into parts of German ECEC rarely seen outside of the country. Offering in-depth insights into historical developments, theoretical approaches and empirical research, the volume discusses Germany’s long tradition in ECEC against the backdrop of Froebel and other pedagogues and traditions. Chapters consider ECEC in Germany from the perspectives of theory, institutions and professionalization. The book draws on international literature and current debates to highlight the features and peculiarities of ECEC in Germany, contributing to dialogue on research into early childhood education and care.

Providing a much-needed, internationally relevant insight into ECEC in Germany, this text will be essential reading for academics, researchers and post-graduate students involved in the field of early childhood education, international education, educational theory, and those researching educational policy and politics more widely.

Bianca Bloch is Research Associate and Doctoral Candidate at the Department of Childhood Education at Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany.

Melanie Kuhn is Professor of Educational Science with a main emphasis on education and inequality at the Heidelberg University of Education, Germany.

Marc Schulz is a Full Professor of sociology of childhood and family at TH Köln/University of Applied Sciences, Germany.

Wilfried Smidt is a Full Professor of Educational Science with a Main Focus on Early Childhood Education at the University of Innsbruck, Austria.

Ursula Stenger is Professor of Educational Science, with a focus on early childhood education and family at the University of Cologne, Germany.