A Short History of the Development of Early Childhood Education.

Early Childhood Education began being taken seriously all the way back in 1837 when Friedrich Fröbel developed the concept of kindergarten. He was one of the earliest early childhood education pioneers. He was known for:

• Introducing the concept of kindergarten.

• Emphasizing the importance of play in learning.

• Developing educational toys and structured activities specifically for young learners.

• Focusing on holistic development through guided exploration.

• Laying the foundation for modern early childhood education.

In 1896, John Dewey began to champion the idea of learning things by doing things. This was a whole new idea in the world of Education. His progressive education theories influenced major and wide-ranging school reforms. He was also known for:

• Championing experiential and “learning by doing” education.

• Believing education should connect with real-life experiences.

• Advocating for a student-centered approach in classrooms.

• Emphasizing the importance of critical thinking and inquiry.

• Influencing progressive education practices for young learners.

In 1907, Maria Montessori opened the first Casa dei Bambini (Children’s House) in Rome. This was s pace created especially for young children, with the specific goal of developing their learning and particular interests. She was known for:

• Developing the Montessori Method emphasizing self-directed learning.

• Creating prepared environments with hands-on learning materials.

• Encouraging independence and exploration in children.

• Focusing on individualized learning at each child’s own pace.

• Promoting mixed-age classrooms to foster natural collaboration.

  
  

  

  Maria Montessori

Between 1924-1934, Lev Vygotsky introduced his theory of the Zone of Proximal Development and scaffolding. This was a new way of understanding how children learn best. He was interested in understanding each child’s “sweet spot” between what they can do on their own and what they can do with some adult help. He believed that learning happens best in this zone, and that with the help of a more knowledgeable person (teacher, parents or peer) a child grows in confidence and over the time the support is gradually removed, revealing a child who is now competent at that task.

• He highlighted the role of social interaction in cognitive development.

• He developed the idea of scaffolding to support learning.

• He stressed that cultural context shapes learning experiences.

• He laid the groundwork for constructivist theories in education.

In 1945 Loris Malaguzzi founded the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education and the first Reggio Emilia school in post-WWII Italy. This was unique because it was completely child centric. He was famous for the amount of value he placed on each child’s innate ability.

• He viewed children as capable, active participants in learning.

• He emphasized a child-centered, inquiry-based curriculum.

• He valued creative expression and communication.

• He promoted collaborative partnerships between educators, children, and families.

Loris Malaguzzi

All of the above is included in some way in the New Zealand Early Childhood Curriculum, Te Whariki