The Bloomsbury Handbook to Friedrich Froebel

Friedrich Froebel (1782 - 1852), the inventor of kindergarten, was one of the most influential educational thinkers of the 19th century. This book showcases the cutting-edge work being undertaken around the world inspired by this pioneer of early childhood education and shows the many ways in which Froebel’s work has been applied and extended. It presents a wealth of Froebelian expertise on topics including pedagogy and curriculum, history, architecture, neuroscience, peace and religious education and links Froebel’s theories to other thinkers including John Dewey, Michel Foucault, Paulo Freire, Aili Helenius and Chen Heqin. It highlights what Froebel means today in a variety of settings around the world and includes contributions from academics and practitioners based in North and South America, Europe, Australasia, Africa and Asia.

Tina Bruce CBE is a Froebel trained teacher and Vice President of BAECE: Early Education. She is the author of Friedrich Froebel: A Critical Introduction to Key Themes and Debates (Bloomsbury, 2021).

Yukiyo Nishida is Lecturer of Early Childhood Education at the University of Aberdeen, UK.

Sacha Powell is CEO of the Froebel Trust, UK, a charity that supports research and practice development in early childhood education based on Froebelian principles.

Helge Wasmuth is Professor of Early Childhood and Childhood Education at Mercy College, USA. He is co-author of Finding Froebel: The Man who Invented Kindergarten (Bloomsbury, 2023).

Jane Whinnett MBE is a former nursery headteacher, Froebel Trust Travelling Tutor and an Associate Tutor for University of Edinburgh, UK.