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John Locke
John Locke promoted early childhood education by explaining the differences in child behavior and learning skills by the environment they are in. He believed that the mind was a blank canvas ready to absorb the world around them. Parents and caregivers were responsible for their experiences and therefore their development. -
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Jean-Jacques Rousseau believed that everyone is created good and that when people interfere we become evil; therefore allowing children to grow without intervening too much. He also believed that allowing children to develop at their own pace thus creating developmentally appropriate practices. -
Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi
Education is experienced from sensory perception. In order for children to develop to the highest of their ability they need to be given manipulatives to work with. -
Friedrich Wilhelm Froebel
Friedrich Wilhelm Froebel is known as the “Father of Kindergarten”. He believed that teachers need to help the children learn what they are ready to learn by providing self-activities and by observation of the children. He believed that children learn best though play and his concepts were some the of greatest contributions to early education. -
John Dewey
John Dewey was the father of Progressive Education Theory. This is the belief that the education children receive is child centered and reflect children learning by life skills not memorization. -
Jean Piaget
Jean Piaget developed the cognitive theory. This theory explains how children develop intellectually. Children develop by interacting with the world around them and restructuring the way they perceive by life experiences. -
Economic Opportunity Fund
The Economic Opportunity Fund promoted education to people who are low socio-economic status. This program was updated in 1981 to the Head start Act. This program helps to serve preschool age children by promoting language, general knowledge, and emotional development. The program works with the families to help provide young children the best start possible to a lifetime of education. -
President Obama and Early Childhood Education
President Obama acknowledges the importance of early childhood education and the lifelong effect it has on individuals. Children who attend early education programs are more likely to succeed in school and in adult life. President Obama proposed a program to provide low income children 4 years of age with quality preschool.
