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John Locke
John Locke's theories are closely associated with the development of the United States constitution. He came up with the idea that environment and experience are the factors that mold our minds and thoughts. He directly correlated this idea to child development, pointing out that the care that the children receieve, in addition to their experiences, make singficant impacts in their developent. -
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Jean Jaques Rousseau
Rousseau encouraged the "natural" development of children. This idea encouraged children to grow without any limitations or disruptions. He was also a proponent of "unfolding", the idea that children's true nature unfolds as they grow, according to their unique biological clock. -
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Johann Pestalozzi
Pestalozzi was responsible for the idea that sensory exploration allows children to reach their full potential. To assist children in this method of exploration, he gave them activities that encouraged them to explore their surroundings using all of their senses. -
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Robert Owen
Robert Owen was focused on the idea that a child's environment can shape their character. He was a pioneer in the early childhood education field by creating infant schools for children eighteen months to ten years. His influence spurred society to place greater emphasis on early childhood care, especially as a means to improve future society. -
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Friedrich Froebel
Froebel is known as the "Father of Kindergarten", and he also centered many of his practices on the idea of unfolding (like Pestolozzi). He believed that teachers should monitor the children's activities and advancements, and offer them new materials when they were ready. Froebel felt that children learned most through individual activity and play. -
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John Dewey
Dewey's educational theory is called progressivism, which emphasizes the children and their interests, rather than the subject matter. This means that activities are child-centered, not planned and mandated. Dewey utilized familiar settings to teach children skills, like counting fruits in a kitchen. This perspective has become extremely important in the formation of modern early education practices. -
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Maria Montessori
Maria Montessori's place in early education began when she became interested in finding educational solutions to disorders that were catogorized as medical problems. She organized houses for young children in Italy, where she tested her theories and ideas. -
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Jean Piaget
Piaget is the creator of cognitive theory, which said that children learn through direct experiences in the physical world, and adapting new knowledge to information that already had. He thought that through continuous activity and interaction, they organize, structure, and restructure their knowledge. Piaget also believed in developmental stages: sensorimotor, preoperational, and concrete operations. -
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Lev Vygotsky
Vygotsky believed that child development was supported and enhanced by social interaction. One of his most important concepts was the zone of proximal development, which is the timeframe in which children are most able to learn new ideas with the assistance of peers. Another concept is scaffolding, assistance from an adult that helps the child when they are unable to complete a task independently. -
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Erik Erikson
Erikson developed the theory of psychosocial development, which showed that social and mental development occur at the same time. According to the theory, children need to advance socially as well as cognitively, or they will not excel. -
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Abraham Maslow
Maslow developed the self-actualization theory. It's a theory of motivation based on how their needs are met. The theory states that children cannot be self-actualized until their basic needs are met. The theory is organized like a pyramid, with most important needs on the bottom. The bottom level includes life essentials (water, food, air), then safety and security, belonging and love, achievement and prestige, aesthetic needs, and finally self-actualization. -
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Urie Brofenbrennar
Urie Brofenbrennar created the idea of ecological theory. This theory focuses on five interrelating environmental systems that impact development. -
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Howard Gardner
Howard Gardner created the theory of multiple intelligences. Instead of basing a child's intelligence in one format, Garnder's theory offers nine different intelligences. This allows educators to view intelligence in different forms.