Finding Froebel: The Man Who Invented Kindergarten

Friedrich Froebel, the "father of kindergarten," was a brilliant but flawed man who founded an educational institute and developed ground-breaking educational theories about play and pedagogy. His life was marked by personal and professional disappointments, but he came up with the idea of kindergarten, which became famous until today. However, when the Prussian government banned kindergarten shortly before his death, Froebel was broken.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 14 December 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Friedrich Froebel, the 'father of kindergarten,' is a significant figure in 19th-century pedagogy. However, limited information exists about his life, achievements, and personal relationships. This new biography, based on untranslated and unknown letters, portrays Froebel as a brilliant yet flawed individual. Froebel's early experiences, including the loss of his mother and challenging relationships with his family, shaped his interest in children and the training of early childhood practitioners. Despite lacking formal academic knowledge due to his poor early education, Froebel overcame these obstacles and established an educational institute, developing groundbreaking educational theories about play and pedagogy. He authored numerous books, with his most famous work being 'The Education of Man.' While Froebel's educational theories are central to his legacy, this book primarily focuses on his complex relationships with his family, the Keilhau community, and the mother of one of his pupils, Caroline von Holzhausen, known as the 'rune of his life.' Despite facing numerous personal and professional setbacks, Froebel conceived the idea of kindergarten, which became his lasting legacy. In the final decade of his life, he tirelessly promoted the kindergarten movement, but his efforts were thwarted when the Prussian government banned kindergarten shortly before his death. Despite the temporary setback, kindergarten continues to thrive today.

Weight: 416g
Dimension: 155 x 234 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350269231