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Abstract On Early Childhood Education
Abstract On Early Childhood Education
Essays on the importance of early childhood education
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Froebel’s playtime. Self-directed play, according to Froebel, is the most pure and natural way to learn (Froebel, 1887). Froebel held strongly to the belief that play is not an idle activity, but one that is essential to proper development.
Froebel (1887) stated: The play of children is not recreation; it means earnest work. Play is the purest intellectual production of the human being, in this stage … for the whole man is visible in them, in his finest capacities, in his innermost being (p. 31).
In Froebelian classrooms, therefore, children were encouraged to play in a variety of ways. Some play was guided by the kindergartner as the gifts were explored. Learning through play was the ultimate goal. For instance, when students participated
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In 1856, Margarethe Schurz established a German-speaking kindergarten in the United States years later, Elizabeth Palmer Peabody opens the first English-speaking kindergarten. Ms. Peabody campaigned for public school kindergartens, and by 1880, there were over 400 kindergartens in 30 states (Cantor, 2013). The kindergarten schools embodied Froebelian beliefs, but to varying degrees. Although each had her own vision for kindergarten, all had common threads in the curricula, including building social competence, developing self-regulation, and learning through discovery and play. It wasn’t long, however, before conflicts between kindergarten and primary schools began to emerge. There was a dissonance between the methodologies used by kindergartners and those used by primary school teachers. Vanderwalker (1907) , a passionate advocate for public school kindergartens, suggested that having kindergarten as a part of elementary school had, in a few short years, already positively influences elementary school classrooms by adding art, music, games, and even nature study. Over the first three decades of the twentieth century, public school kindergarten would be redesigned to reflect the shifting goals and philosophies of the sponsors, both in private and public school settings (Spodek, 1981). One such philosophy shift was not so much a rejection of Froebel’s original kindergarten roots, but an extension of his core tenets. John Dewey understood and …show more content…
Understanding how children think and interact with the world around them lead to the creation of educational practices that are deemed developmentally appropriate (Bredekamp, 2014). Effective instruction provided in kindergarten classrooms has its roots in cognitive learning theories in which development refers to “cognitive patterned changes over time” (Abu-Jaber, AL-Shawareb, & Gheith, 2010). These practices became the cornerstone of the kindergarten, first in Froebel’s Play and Activity Institute, and then throughout the world as more and more kindergarten schools were established. Likewise, American kindergartens have as the cornerstone of their practices the tenets of play and discovery learning (Brosterman 2014). Learning by discovery has its roots in the philosophy of Jean Jacque Rousseau, who believed that one cannot force knowledge; rather, children must be allowed to naturally develop and enjoy the early years of their life before they are ready to be formally educated (Macdonald, Rudkowski & Schärer, 2013). DAP encompasses Rousseau’s beliefs, and pertain to diverse areas of development for children from birth to age eight (Kim, 2011). In keeping with this idea, those advocates of early childhood education are the cornerstone of what has been deemed appropriate practice when creating an educational environment for young children. Providing an environment for optimal learning, an environment in which children can develop
Hedges, Helen. ""You Don't Leave Babies on Their Own": Children's Interests in Early Childhood Education." Early Education. Ed. Janet B. Mottely and Anne R. Randall. New York: Nova Science, 2009. N. pag. Print.
Early childhood education, although constantly evolving, was actually established and practiced as early on as the times of Ancient Greece and Rome. The foundation that early childhood education is based upon is to instill in children the skills needed to succeed later on in life, while making sure young children enjoy their time in schooling. Throughout chapter 3 in the textbook Who Am I in the Lives of Children, the reader is capable of evaluating just how greatly the methods for teaching today’s youth have evolved and changed for the better.
A research-based article by Almon, J. and Miller, E. (2011) showed some researches from different parts of the world regarding the Crisis in Early Education. One of those crisis they found out was children were pushed to early learning. They focused on the cognitive accomplishment rather than play-based learning. With all the evidences they have gathered, they found out that when children get inappropriate early education, it has a long-term negative effect.
My desire for children in my care is that their learning journey would be meaningful as they explore the ideas and activities they are interested in. This means that I believe that children are naturally motivated learners and should have the opportunity to learn through their own explorations and through collaboration with other children and educators. I believe this can be done through both teacher-initiated and child-initiated activities and supported through play. I also believe that play is a natural and enjoyable means through which children learn. In my practice I aim to encourage children’s natural ...
Many theorists have tried to define play as a concept, however, no two agree on a set definition. Their backgrounds and induvial lifestyles influence the way they see the importance of play. Reed and Brown also believe that there isn’t an agreed definition of play because is something that is felt rather than done (Reed & Brown, 2000 cited in Brock, Dodd’s, Jarvis & Olusoga, 2009). In spite of this, it is clear that most theorists uphold the ethos that play is imperative to a child’s learning and development. There is a wide range of different studies and theories which helps us develop our own perception of what play is. In my personal experience I have found play to be a way of expressive our emotions, exploring and learning new things, thus
Moreover, Froebel theory is similar to Rousseau theory that the child should learn in nature. In addition, Froebel wants to teach teachers to be sensitive to child 's willingness and needs. Also, they should do not be taskmasters and should not let the child memorize thing by heard that they do not understand. He believes that the child is a self-active learner. For example, Froebel 's kindergarten or child 's garden that was founded in the year 1837, Its environment should “have games, play, songs, stories, and crafts that help the child learn through his imagination and teach them about the culture heroes and the values.” Like when the child play with other children become in a group that in the future that may help them to be part of the society. Moreover, the kindergarten should have materials that the child could shape: clay, sand, cardboard, and sticks that will let the child use their imagination to build things like a castle. In addition, nowadays many preschools follow Frobel 's theory and let children use their imagination to learn and the teacher considers the child 's need and does not force them to learn things by hard that they may not understand, and the teacher respects the culture values that the child does the
Children have a natural inclination to play, alongside a natural instinct to learn and to be curious and inventive, which are characteristics of the human race in general. This quote taken from Janet Moyles is a good starting point for this essay. It is well known that children love to play. If a child were to be left to his/her own devices they would happily play and create new worlds anywhere they were left. It has been well documented and researched that children learn excellently through play. However they are not always given the opportunity to do so, instead being told to, ‘finish your work and then you can go play’. Obviously this is not always the case, but the fact that it is a common practice shows that we do not all fully appreciate the importance of play to children’s learning. This essay will attempt to show how children learn through play, making reference to current theory and practice. I will also give examples from my own first-hand experience of how children learn and develop as people through play.
Froebel believed that the kindergarten's primary focus should be on play–the process by which he believed children expressed their inner thoughts, needs, and desires so that's why Froebel's emphasis on play. For Froebel play is facilitated by children's process of thoughts, imitation of adult vocational activities, and socialization. By playing, children socialize and imitate adult social and economic activities as they are gradually led into the larger world of group life. The kindergarten provides an environment that encouraged children to interact with other children under the guidance of a loving teacher he also believed in outdoor play and nature. (hardy, 2013) (Notes, 2013)
Before diving into my research, I reflected on the knowledge I already knew regarding play and play based learning. From experience, I know that play is an enjoyable activity for children, and even some adults. I know that there are different ways one can play. For example, playing with others is known as cooperative play and playing alone is considered solitary play. There are different types of play. For example, there is dress up or pretend games, which is considered dramatic, play and there is playing with building blocks which is constructive play. After my reflection I realized that I was more knowledgeable on the action of playing rather then the benefits of it.
Friedrich Froebel was a German scholar born in 1782 who did a lot of work on child’s play and how children use nature in their development. Although one of the early theorists (1782–1852), Froebel’s theories are still relevant today. He stressed the importance of play and recognised that the outdoor environment is vital to children’s learning and development. Each child should be allowed the time and space to play and develop through play activities.
Early childhood education is an issue that is examined both by media and academic professionals, both of which are represented by Alison Gopnik, a writer and professor (Gopnik, 2013). Gopnik (2011) found that over the years, parents and teachers work to their fullest to instruct children to read at very young ages. It can be Interpreted that reading skills take priority over creative skills, since children are instructed to read even in the womb (Gopnik, 2011). “Thus, the pressure is rising to make kindergartens and nurseries more like schools” (Gopnik, 2011). This pressure has come from the law since 2001, when preschools were pushed to become more academic (Gopnik, 2011).
Despite all of play’s weird attributes, it is a wonderfully important activity and experience. The lack of play within early childhood programs is impractical and disappointing. American’s are denying their students what they need, so they can measure their student’s academic intelligence, thinking little to none about their student’s social and emotional intelligence, which are just as important. Play is so much more than just play. Play is necessary. Play is learning, engaging, thinking, understanding, caring, knowing, experiencing, and lots more. Play needs to be restored in America’s early childhood
Those who support children in starting school at an early age, claim early childhood education is of critical importance during a child’s early developmental period. They believe it is important for early social interactions, play, and learning among peers to be best ingrained early on in a child’s youth. Gunilla Dahlberg, a psychologist specializing in childhood education, wrote a book on the success and factors that play into success a child will have in their education. In Dahlberg’s chapter, “Constructing Early Childhood”, he talks about factors
A very wise man; Charles Schaefer, once said “We are never more fully alive, more completely ourselves, or more deeply engrossed in anything than when we are playing.” To begin with, there is no one explanation about what play really is, other than the fact that it holds infinite numbers of definitions according to every single individual. Play is just not a physical body movement involved in an activity, but more than that if you look outside of the box. For centuries, play has been practiced in its own unique way with not only children, but adults as well.
What Kids Really Learn in Preschool. Parenting. (Fall 99):Vol. 13 Issue 7, p 74. October