Froebel, Friedrich (founder of the kindergarten movement)

Friedrich Froebel (1782-1852) was a German educator best known as the founder of the kindergarten movement. He believed that early childhood education should foster creativity and learning through play and hands-on activities. Froebel introduced the concept of "kindergarten," meaning "children's garden," where children could grow and develop naturally. He developed educational toys called "gifts" to promote learning through exploration. His ideas emphasized the importance of nurturing a child's individuality, social interaction, and connection to nature, laying the groundwork for modern preschool education and influencing many educational systems around the world.