Froebelian Principles and Practices

This chapter draws on lessons from the past that impact today. It gives a contemporary view of Froebelian principles and practices against this backcloth. Froebelian principles are set against the challenging context in which children, their families and educators are currently placed. The impact of contemporary global challenges includes increased child and family poverty, demographic changes such as smaller families, older grandparents and more reconstituted families and climate changes, sustainability, conflict, mass population movements, the rise of artificial intelligence and the dominance of technology in daily life. This chapter demonstrates the importance of the Praxeological Professional Development Processes that have emerged in the work of the Froebel Partnership, providing positive ways forwards for this community of learners. The Froebelian principles have supported the work by enabling articulation of practices which have unity, inner logic and cohesion. This has contributed to well-being at work and brings hope for the future to those working with young children and their families.