Through exploring Froebelian principles in practice, a team of educators developed their knowledge of slow pedagogy. The project developed training and collective collaboration across three settings.
Three settings collaborated in this project (all under Falkirk Council Children’s services):
- Bantaskin Early Learning Centre focused on nature – enabling autonomy and choice of being whilst in nature.
- Larbert Early Learning and Children’s Centre focused on 'Marvellous mealtimes' and the connection between slow pedagogy and Froebelian principles.
- Glendevon Early Learning and Children’s Centre also focused on 'Marvellous mealtimes' and the connection between slow pedagogy and Froebelian principles.
This project came about in response to Professor Alison Clark's recent research 'Slow knowledge and the unhurried child'.
Slow pedagogy is all about:
- valuing the present moment
- being attentive to children’s pace, rhythm and interests
- enabling children to revisit their ideas and creations, places and stories
- creating opportunities for children to go deeper in their learning
- supporting time for observation, listening, reflection and documentation
- encouraging unhurried everyday routines with time for wonder and care.
By using professional reading the project team wanted to examine Froebel’s concept of 'starting where the child is'.
Families and community engagement are also central throughout this project.
The project team’s ultimate aim is to create a rich culture of collaboration, agency and listening, which embraces all children having time to live and learn within holistic, unhurried nurturing places.
Final project reports:
- Donna Green (Early Years Pedagogue, Falkirk Froebelian Lead) Project Leader;s final report (PDF presentation) - Published November 2022
- Bantaskin Early Learning Centre nature report - Published November 2022
- Larbert Early Learning and Children’s Centre 'Marvellous mealtimes' report - Published November 2022
- Glendevon Early Learning and Children’s Centre 'Marvellous mealtimes' report - Published November 2022
Project poster:
Other resources:
- Exploring Slow Pedagogy through a Froebelian Lens - Green, D., (2021) A summary of Donna Green's MSc in Education Early Childhood and Froebel Dissertation PDF
Froebel Trust pamphlets
Our free to download pamphlet series explores how Froebelian principles can be applied in modern early years practice.
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