Froebel or Fröbel pedagogy had its heyday in the second half of the 19th century. Indeed, this method focused on a self-learning, and the development of autonomy had a global impact at the time, even if "gifts" were often used to complement formal education and not as a replacement. Kindergartens remain numerous worldwide but have evolved from Fröbel's original theories.
What is the Froebel method?
What teaching materials does it provide? How to set up a nursery based on this approach? What activities should be planned? This guide will give you essential elements to understand this pedagogical approach from Germany.
Which teaching material is adapted to the Froebel method?
The Froebel method: definition and objectives
What is Froebel’s pedagogy?
A German pedagogue, Friedrich Froebel is best known as the creator of kindergartens. Yet his pedagogy extends far beyond our modern representation of "kindergarten.”
The term "kindergarten" is interpreted allegorically: the school is the garden, and the children are the plants whose supervisory staff are the gardeners. For Fröbel, it is in contact with nature that the child must be raised and provided with the benefits of an appropriate environment: as any good gardener would do with his plants.
Based on this philosophy, the German pedagogue has created a method adapted to early childhood, based on a philosophical and educational current where the child, like a seed, follows his development thanks to an environment prepared for him. It was around 1836 that Fröbel developed his pedagogy based on the main components of early childhood: play, teaching materials, and kindergarten.
What is the difference with Montessori?
In some respects, the Froebel method can evoke Montessori pedagogy: these two approaches propose a complete development of the child, not requiring another teaching, formal, for example. However, the teaching materials used in these methods are pretty different.
Other subtle variants exist between the Fröbel and Montessori methods: they concern the role of professionals or parents, the planning of space, or the learning to read...
Main principles of Fröbel pedagogy
The importance of play in education
In kindergartens, Friedrich Froebel was one of the first German thinkers to give the play a role in education. For him, if the child does not have specific skills (reading, writing ...), teaching must go through another means, for example, manual activities or play.
Game theory is the foundation of the Froebel method. At the center is the concept of unifying life. The German pedagogue presents the game as "the mirror of life.” It is used as a privileged means of interaction and meditation between:
- The child and his environment
- The child and objects
- The child and others.
For families and professional supervisors, the play also has interests by allowing them to understand the child through play better and bringing them back to their childhood.
The four main components
The role of the gardener
In his treatise on pedagogy, Froebel integrates a theory on teaching and the educator. In kindergarten or school, the supervisory staff is gardeners who prepare the children in an environment beneficial to their growth. This mission involves observation, accompaniment, encouragement, and guidance to the child.
Whether it is the parent or the supervisory profession, the role of the adult is paramount in the game. The adult guides without directing the child to accompany him and ensures that the game is adapted to his faculties and learning needs.
If the importance of the autonomy of the child during the game is essential, the presence of the adult is also. Friedrich Froebel recommends that adults also experiment with the game to get to know it better.
Froebel pedagogy gives plays a key role.
Froebel in practice: kindergarten, material
The concept of kindergarten
The kindergarten is the initial concept created by Friedrich Froebel and, in his time, very widespread in French-speaking Switzerland. As imagined by the German pedagogue, this space has since evolved to stick to the realities of reception structures based on this approach. It must be remembered that a layout adapted to the Froebel method is a space that promotes development through play, movement, and the link with nature:
- In the Fröbelian concept, kindergarten is not a place for transmitting academic knowledge (writing, reading, arithmetic) but a space dedicated to the development of young children. Therefore, this space must be imagined as promoting activities, play, travel, and autonomy.
- Physical activity is essential for children's proper development and well-being and is part of the play. Developing a nursery school based on the Froebel method must allow and promote movement.
- Contact with nature is essential in the approach of the German pedagogue. It involves creating an outdoor space to familiarize children with their environment, understand life cycles, or maintain small gardens. Through these activities in nature, the child tames his process and relationship with his environment.
Donations and occupations, a specific material
For Froebel, little material is necessary for the child's development and fulfillment. The essential thing is that the child integrates the notion of unity between him, the object, the environment, and nature. To this end, Froebel has created educational tools such as the Spielgaben: a treasure box containing adapted teaching materials composed of very colorful geometric shapes. Intended for children from 3 to 6 years old, it allows them to approach colors and shapes and work on their motor skills or spatial representation through construction.
To designate this material, Fröbel spoke of "gifts,” which can be translated as giving the child something to play with. Thanks to these gifts, the little child can give free rein to his desires and imagination while developing his abilities: fine motor skills, vocabulary, knowledge, and creativity ... The Spielgaben brings together donations appropriate to the learning needs of toddlers: wool balls, wooden shapes, brightly colored cardboard, modeling clay, etc.
In addition to gifts, "occupations" are another term used in the Fröbelian method to designate various pedagogical materials presenting surfaces, dots, and lines. These elements allow children to create forms of usual, aesthetic or mathematical.
The "Spielgaben" donation box
HABA Pro accompanies Froebel nurseries
Products adapted to Fröbel pedagogy
Anchored in today's educational issues, HABA Pro has developed product ranges in support of the most recognized pedagogies, including Montessori, Loczy, or Reggio Emilia pedagogies.
Developed with specialists in these methods, our facilities and products respect their educational values: equipment at the child’s height, free access play area, and furniture allowing the free evolution of the child.
Facilities designed for children's development
Friedrich Frobel based his approach on a philosophy that considers that the child, like a seed, follows his development thanks to an environment specially prepared for him. At HABA Pro, we share this policy of allowing children to express their full potential by providing a safe and stimulating environment and the resources necessary for their learning.
This is why we design accommodations designed to reassure children, meet their learning needs, awaken their senses, promote their autonomy, and allow expression in various forms ... Thus, toddlers become autonomous, responsible, and resourceful.
To respect each child’s learning pace, our products offer simulations adapted to each stage of evolution. They are developed with child specialists and allow the development of specific skills: motor, cognitive, emotional ...