Pre-KG 2026/ 27 Blog 5
Playing is learning !
For centuries it was thought that children's play was either idle occupation or different from serious learning.
This mindset was challenged by Friedrich Froebel (1782-1852), a German educator who invented the concept of the Kindergarten and changed early childhood education.
Mr. Friedrich Froebel believed that play is the most important way young children learn, grow and express their soul and the word "Kindergarten" which he created is used worldwide.
Being German, I am often asked about the origin, so I would like to share an introduction of Mr.Froebel and his concept.
This week again the Pre-Kindergarten children played and discovered with their friends inside and outside the classroom all while learning lots of new things. During outside time the Pre-Kindergarten children challenged themselves to trying a variety of vehicles and it was heartwarming to see how the older children engaged with them and made sure they were alright !
========================
Quote:
Who was Friedrich Froebel (1782-1852)
Born on 21 April 1782 Friedrich Froebel was a German educator who invented the kindergarten. He believed that “play is the highest expression of human development in childhood for it alone is the free expression of what is in the child’s soul.” According to Froebel, in play children construct their understanding of the world through direct experience with it. His ideas about learning through nature and the importance of play have spread throughout the world.
- Play is Serious Work: He argued that play is the highest level of child development. Through play, children test ideas and make sense of the world.
- Unity and Nature: He believed all things in the universe are connected. Spending time outdoors in nature helps children see these bonds and feel at peace.
- Child Autonomy: He taught that children learn best by doing things themselves. Adults should guide gently rather than give strict instructions.
- Holistic Growth: Education must care for the whole child. This includes physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
Froebel considered the whole child’s, health, physical development, the environment, emotional well-being, mental ability, social relationships and spiritual aspects of development as important. Drawing on his mathematical and scientific knowledge Froebel developed a set of gifts (wooden blocks 1-6) and introduced occupations, (including sticks, clay, sand, slates, chalk, wax, shells, stones, scissors, paper folding). The gifts and occupations are open-ended and can be used to support children’s self initiated play.
Froebel believed that it was important for practitioners to understand the principles of observation including professional practice, the multiple lenses through which they see children- and that children see their worlds, as well as offering children freedom with guidance and considering the children’s environments including people and materials as a key element of how they behave.
Because Froebel based much of his understanding of children on observing them this has changed the way we think about children’s play.
==========
It is interesting to see how wooden blocks, some of the original Froebel gifts, never fail to fascinate and always inspire the children to create, connect and try over and over. These original blocks now come in different materials and give children the opportunity to discover shapes and seek solutions.
It is fantastic to see how curious the children always are, how much they are starting to bond with their friends and how ready they are for new challenges!
With kind regards, mit freundlichen Grüßen,
Anita Ursula Mönch
DSKI Pre-Kindergarten homeroom teacher
Playgroup / EY GFL & Deutsch
German Saturday School homeroom teacher
No comments:
Post a Comment