Opinion

Experiencing Froebel's legacy

Viewpoint
A Community Playthings' trip to Froebel's school in Keilhau, Germany, has left the 19-strong group from across the early years sector with much to reflect on. Dr Julian Grenier outlines his impressions

To arrive in Keilhau, Germany,  is to begin at the beginning:  the origins of the Kindergarten and of Froebelian education are there. Froebel famously surveyed the beautiful, lush green German landscape with its small and dilapidated village and said, 'Hhere is a valley for education.'

Much of what we now take for granted about early education dates back to Froebel’s revolutionary work there. It was Froebel who believed that young children should learn through play and through first-hand experiences with natural materials like sand and water, and that physical education was important in school.

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