History of Early Childhood Education Rachel Smith

  • Period: to

    John Amos Comenius

    The picture book he wrote was named Orbis Pictus (The visible World in Pictures). He was also the first to formulate the idea of "education according to nature" which wasvery influetial in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
  • Period: to

    John Locke

    He believed children are "tabula rasa" which means blank slates.This belief is explained in his book , Some Thoughts Conserning Education, where he explains how to educate that blank tablet with three methods : the development of a healthy body; the formation of a virtuous character; and the choice of an appropriate academic curriculum.
  • Period: to

    Robert Owen

    He believed that environment determines children's beliefs, behaviors, and achievements. He influenced the theory of the impotance of infant programs, that education can counteract a child's poor environment, and early childhood education can reform society.
  • Period: to

    Friedrich Froebel

    He founded the kindergarden and compared children to growing plants. He influenced the theory that teachers are like gardeners and children should have specific matirials to learn concepts and skills. A big theory he influenced is that children learn through play.
  • Period: to

    Jean Piaget

    His studies with children influenced the theory of matching education to children's stages of cognitive develpoment. He also influenced the theory of active involvement of children in learning activitie. He believed children are"little scientists" and literally develop their own intelligence.
  • Period: to

    Erik Erikson

    He created the theory of psychosocial development- cognitive development occurs in conjuction with social development. He believed life is a series of 8 stages, each stage representing a critical period in social development.
  • Period: to

    Abraham Maslow

    He created the theory of self-actualization basedon needs motivation. He believed that human development is a process of meeting basic needs thoughout life. He was well known for creating Maslow's heirachy of needs which was a theory of psychological health predicated on fulfilling innate human needs in priority, culminating in self-actualization.
  • Period: to

    Urie Bonfenbrenner

    He created the thoery of Ecological systems which viewsa child as developing within a system of relationships. There are 5 interrelating systems - microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, macrosystem, and chronosystem- that have a powerful impact on development.