Following the International Froebel Society Conference in the summer, in this episode of The Froebel Trust Podcast we catch up with six Froebelians across the globe on their reflections on Froebelian education.
Together with presenter Colin Kelly, they explore Froebel's influence throughout history, why Froebelian pedagogy is so important for modern educators and young children today, and how the approach can be used to navigate both modern day and future challenges.
"You're part of a professional community that has succeeded in many places over very long periods of time and often under circumstances that were pretty tricky for all different sorts of reasons. So I think that's important just to know that you're not alone."
Dr. Kristen Nawrotzki
"Everything about Froebel for myself helps me to meet the needs of my children and helps me to get it right for them and think about what's important for them and put them at the heart of everything we're doing."
Donna Kilpatrick
"[Froebelian education] is a way of thinking about education that puts the child at the centre that really has a very sound value base that I think offers teachers and educators opportunities to make sense of it as learners in their own right."
Dr Karen Vincent
"I think it's a great contribution to inclusive education too, because in his engagement with educationally disadvantaged children and young people affected by poverty and disability, Froebel is already regarded as a pioneer of inclusion and a school for all, I think."
Dr Andrea Schmid
"One of my favourite phrases, 'life is messy.' [...] it's part of being alive and that makes us human. But if AI starts making everything more predictable, you know. Too much listening, too much coping with children's emotions and over empathising with their every little emotions and eliminating conflicts or failure. Then, I mean can you really call that education?"
Grace Choi
"Early years educators are part of a profession and part of one of the characteristics of a profession is having a common history that becomes, and knowing that becomes part of our professional socialisation and builds community."
Professor Larry Prochner
Join us as we take a journey through Froebelian education past, present and future and find out how a Froebelian approach has been and continues to be used to support educators of young children.
Guests in this episode:
Professor Larry Prochner is a professor of early childhood education at the University of Alberta. He has been a member of research teams for two Froebel Trust-funded history projects—Froebelian Endeavours and Reimagining Teaching. He is the editor, with Kristen Nawrotzki, of the forthcoming book Nature and Early Education: Global Perspectives on Outdoor Learning for Young Children, to be published by Routledge. He serves on the executive committee of the International Froebel Society and was co-president for several years.
Dr. Kristen Nawrotzki is a historian of education at Heidelberg University of Education in Germany. She has authored numerous studies of the movements for Froebelian education in the US, UK and elsewhere and is a former co-president of the International Froebel Society.
Dr Karen Vincent is an Honorary Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Education at Canterbury Christ Church University. Her experiences as a teacher in early years settings are at the root of her pedagogical research interests. She is currently engaged in researching with nurseries in Kent to explore pedagogical interactions in the outdoors.
This is part of a Froebel Trust funded project to explore the use of wearable technology to explore freedom with guidance. She is also engaged in a collaborative project with Birmingham City University and the University of the West of England exploring experiences of Early Childhood Studies graduates in the workplace. She co-wrote Supporting Early Literacies through Play, with Dr Kate Smith. Karen is Secretary and Vice Chair of the England branch of the International Professional Development Association (IPDA), Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a TACTYC Trustee.
Donna Kilpatrick is a Mum of two girls aged 19 and 17. She has taught in Falkirk schools for over 25 years and is proud to be the Head Teacher of Whitecross Primary School and Nursery. Donna recently started her Froebel journey and has been so inspired by the teaching that she received at the University of Edinburgh where she completed the Froebel in Childhood Practice Course.
Donna has had the opportunity to learn from the most amazing educators but also had the privilege to meet them at the IFS Conference in Erfurt. She is passionate to ensure that play and the Froebelian Principles continue to be developed in her practice at her nursery and school.
Grace Choi is the President of the International Froebel Society and the Principal of Rainbow Kids International Kindergarten in Beijing, China. For over a decade, Grace has been committed to advancing Froebelian principles in early childhood education, focusing especially on Froebel Gift Blocks teacher training since 2012. As the founder of Rainbow Teacher Training School, Grace has worked closely with educators and organizations like the Korean Froebel Society and Taiwan Froebel and Montessori Society to bring Froebel's child-centered approach to educators in China and beyond.
In recent years, Grace has shifted her attention to the intersection of technology and Froebelian education. She believes that in the face of rapid technological advances—especially in areas like AI and digital learning—it is more important than ever to focus on maintaining a holistic, child-centered approach to education. Instead of simply adapting Froebelian education to fit into the modern tech-driven world, Grace is passionate about exploring how Froebel's principles can coexist with technological innovation, preserving the integrity of Froebelian pedagogy in a world increasingly shaped by machines and digital platforms.
Grace's work is grounded in the belief that the future of education must prioritize the whole child -nurturing intellectual, emotional, and social development- not just focusing on solutions that serve narrow human advancement. She is dedicated to pioneering a future where Froebelian values continue to inspire holistic learning environments amid the challenges of the digital age.
Dr Andrea Christine Schmid is a professor of the University of Erfurt in Thuringia/Germany at the Faculty of Educational Science and the Department of Special and Social Education. Her main areas of focus in research and teaching are as follows: special needs education and inclusion, Reform- and Froebel Pedagogy, health and professionalization research and counseling. She heads the Froebel Research Unit at the University of Erfurt and is Vice President of the International Froebel Society.
Links and resources for educators related to Episode 19:
Froebel Trust Short Courses - A series of short courses for educators and carers in early years settings.
A series of Froebel Trust pamphlets - available to download for free on the Froebel Trust website.
A transcript of Episode 19 is available to download at froebel.org.uk/training-and-resources/podcast
Visit the Froebel Trust website to access a range of free resources and find out more about a Froebelian approach to early childhood education.
