The Power of Froebel in Early Childhood Education

Across the globe there has been a significant resurgence of interest in Froebel's philosophy in practice and Scotland is a front-runner in its systemic adoption of a Froebelian approach. This book offers a never-before-seen glimpse into Scotland’s world-leading community of Froebel-inspired early childhood practice.

Liberated by national guidance, the expert contributors unearth the recent history of this movement to embed child, community, and ecologically centred education from birth to five and beyond in local, regional and national contexts. It offers valuable insight into the transformational work taking place in individual nursery and kindergarten settings, as well as policy circles and the emergent professional networks and research supporting both. It also highlights the challenges faced in moving away from the developmental and neo-liberal approaches that have governed early childhood education for over three decades, amid real economic and social pressures which continue to pressure early learning environments to produce “school-ready” children.

Written primarily from the perspective of practitioners, it makes a compelling case that change is driven from the bottom up, and offers insightful case studies to show how this pedagogy has children, families and communities at its heart. The Power of Froebel in Early Childhood Education is a vital companion text for anyone considering the implementation of children’s rights in early education today.

Lynn. J. McNair is one of the founding leaders of the Edinburgh Froebel Network and a Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Practice and Froebel at the University of Edinburgh, and Pathway co-ordinator of the MSc Ed (Early Childhood Practice and Froebel).

Luke J. Addison is an early childhood educator, researcher, and PhD student at the University of Edinburgh, UK, with a deep passion for Froebelian principles, sustainability in education, and child-led learning.