2018 Annual Preschool Kindergarten Summit

Friedrich Froebel recognized that every child has his or her own inner structure. He felt it was of primary importance to enable children to draw their own conclusions rather than be provided with answers. He disliked elaborate toys that discouraged creativity and discovery, believing that less was more. To create a life-long learner, he knew that children needed experiences that stimulated the senses, challenged the mind, and nourished the soul. The Froebel Gifts and Occupations are elegantly simple but allow for a profoundly deep exploration of spatial reasoning, analytical thinking, and creative design. The Gifts are modular, logical, and multi-functional. They are intended to be explored and experienced, allowing children to be open, creative, self-activated learners. The Occupations are the complement to the Gifts, building underlying neurodevelopmental processes necessary for higher thinking and learning. While the Froebel Gifts and Occupations were initially intended for young children, they continue to challenge the minds of all ages of learners. The purpose of this workshop is to introduce Friedrich Froebel’s educational philosophy, as well as give an overview and introduction to the Froebel Gifts and Occupations. Hands-on activities will be provided that enable participants to develop a beginning understanding of the materials.