A particular vision: Froebel in Japan

Abstract

'Come, let us live with our children!' This is the well-known motto of Friedrich Froebel (1782-1852). Froebel was the 'Father of the Kindergarten' and is still seen today as a heroic figure in early childhood education. Some may think that Froebel is old-fashioned, however, the currently important ideas of early childhood education such as play, imagination, creativity, mathematics, music, aesthetics, science, socialisation, morality, and culture, all are to be found in Froebel's theory and practice. Froebel's theory and the idea of the kindergarten travelled in the 19th century from Germany to the countries of Western Europe, England, the USA, eventually arriving in Japan. The kindergarten was adopted by many ambassadors, the so-called 'Froebelians', around the world and to a large extent laid the foundation for the current practice of early childhood education in many countries.