The History of Early Childhood Education

By RunnerMom3
  • Jan 1, 1483

    Martin Luther 1483-1546

    Martin Luther was a primary leader in the field of early childhood education because he began with an early emphasis on the ability to ready. He wanted children to have knowledge of the Bible and therefore literacy became a large focus as it is today. He also believed that the families played an important part in educating their children and that holds true today in the field of early childhood education. (1) (2)

  • John Locke 1632-1704

    John Locke was an important part of the history of Early Childhood Education because he saw children as "blank slates" and stated that they are filled with knowledge by their environments. He believed the quality of the environment impacted the quality of their learning and how they developed. To an extent this can be applied today as children are often a reflection of the environment they are exposed to. (1) (2)

  • Jean Jacques Rosseau 1712-1778

    Rosseau published a book called Emile, which was a book about the education of children. He advocated that children should learn at their own cognitive speed without influence from other stimuli. This paved the way into Special Education and for those with cognitive disabilities because he believed that children should learn at their own pace. (2) (3)

  • Charles Michel L'Epee 1712-1789

    L'Epee was a pioneer in the field of educating children with disabilities. In 1760 he founded the first public school for children with disabilities in France. He focused on teaching language in a new way for those that were deaf and blind. (3)

  • Robert Owen 1771-1858

    Robert Owen believed that children's social and academic achievement was a reflection of the environment they were exposed to. He was also a Utopian, so he believed that by controlling their environment for child rearing a better and more perfect world could be created. As a result of his beliefs, he opened an infant school for about 100 children in 1816 in Scotland. He led the path in education for the relationship between social and educational teachings. (1) (2)

  • Froebel, Father of Kindergarten 1782-1852

    Froebel is best known for creating the first kindergarten. He created a formal curriculum and methodology for teaching children. Froebel believed that children develop best through play and he created a series of objects/toys for children to explore with teacher guidance. His teachings are still important today as he helped lay the groundwork for a formal program for Early Childhood Education. (1) (2)

  • Maria Montessori 1870-1952

    Maria Montessory created the Montessori Method, which focuses on observing and supporting the developement of children. She founded the first formal practices for inclusion of children with special needs. Her goal in her development of the Montessori program was for the children to develop a lifelong of learning and that the program would support that. There are currently over 4,000 Montessori programs using her developments. (1) (2)

  • Lev Vygotsky 1896-1934

    Vygotsky had a large influence on the world of education and continues to inspire today. He believed the children's mental, language and social development was dependent on social interactions. He created the zone of proximal development which shows the level to which a child can preform independently and need assistance from an adult or peer. He introduced Scaffolding. Scaffolding is a way to assist a child needing support to becoming independent. This is critical in ECE settings. (1)

  • Abraham Maslow 1908-1970

    Maslow is responsible for creating the Hierarchy of Human Needs. Those include life essentials, safety and security, belonging and feeling loved, achievement and prestige, aesthetic needs and reaching self actualization. All of these needs help to direct what the classroom setting should be like through praise, safety and security to maximize the learning of the children. (1)

  • Howard Gardner 1943- Current

    Howard Gardner identified eight types of intelligences:
    Visual/spatial, verbal/linguistic, mathematical/logical, bodily/kinesthetic, musical/rhythmic, intrapersonal, interpersonal and naturalistic. He recognized that children can be smart in many different ways and through many different learning styles. His teachings enforced teaching to the strengths of the child. This mindset is incredibly helpful in early childhood and inclusion settings. (2)

  • Head Start Programs 1965

    Head Start was created to help break the cycle for those effected by poverty and provide preschool aged children with an education. Each program focuses on the communities it serves and teaches social, emotional and academic skills to those from low income areas. President Lyndon B. Johnson declared a war on poverty in 1964 and Head Start was created a year later to help educate children. (4)

  • Education of All Handicapped Children Act- 1975

    In 1975 the Education for All Handicapped Children Act was passed. This act focused on protecting and advocating for the rights of infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities. This act guaranteed children with disabilities a free and public education. (1) (5)

  • IDEA Individual with Disabilities Education Act 1990

    In 1990 the Education of All Handicapped Children act was revised to IDEA. IDEA laid the foundation for blending early childhood education and special education. In today's education system, all early childhood education teachers are also special education teachers. IDEA focuses on providing education that is based on equality of all children. (1) (5)