Abstract

Friedrich Froebel developed his own radical new educational method and philosophy which was based on structured, activity based learning, and established his Play and Activity Institute in Bad Blankenburg, which he renamed kindergarten, in 1840: this term is still used world-wide. It signifies both a garden for children, a place in which they can observe and interact with nature, as well as a garden of children, in which they are able to grow and develop in a natural and unconstrained way. Kindergarten was seen as having three essential parts, namely creative play; singing and dancing as part of healthy activity; and literally gardening, i.e. observing and nurturing plants as a way of stimulating awareness of the natural world.