Spirituality in early childhood pedagogy: a Froebelian lens on the role of women in a Chinese context

TY - CHAP

T1 - Spirituality in early childhood pedagogy: a Froebelian lens on the role of women in a Chinese context

AU - Tang, Fengling

AU - Zhao, Juan

PY - 2023/11/30

Y1 - 2023/11/30

N2 - Frierich Froebel (1840:49) holds that the three conditions of educational training as ‘one undivided unity’ include ‘woman’s heart and woman’s life,’ ‘intimate union with genuine loving care of children’ and ‘true sense of communion with God’. Religious thinking in connection with Christianity as central to Froebelian philosophy has been observed by generations of Froebelians. The chapter examines the place of free thinking and argues for the placement of spirituality as a natural human predisposition that transcends religious-secular boundaries. The chapter focuses on spirituality in early childhood pedaogy via a Froebelian lens on women’s role in the Chinese context. The chapter demonstrates that Froebel’s concept of Unity has clear links to women educators‘ practices of supporting children’s spiritual development by addressing the importance of children’s engagement with nature through play in contemporary China. This chapter illustrates that a Froebelian lens opens up space for early childhood educators to nurture children’s spiritual development in the 21st century.

AB - Frierich Froebel (1840:49) holds that the three conditions of educational training as ‘one undivided unity’ include ‘woman’s heart and woman’s life,’ ‘intimate union with genuine loving care of children’ and ‘true sense of communion with God’. Religious thinking in connection with Christianity as central to Froebelian philosophy has been observed by generations of Froebelians. The chapter examines the place of free thinking and argues for the placement of spirituality as a natural human predisposition that transcends religious-secular boundaries. The chapter focuses on spirituality in early childhood pedaogy via a Froebelian lens on women’s role in the Chinese context. The chapter demonstrates that Froebel’s concept of Unity has clear links to women educators‘ practices of supporting children’s spiritual development by addressing the importance of children’s engagement with nature through play in contemporary China. This chapter illustrates that a Froebelian lens opens up space for early childhood educators to nurture children’s spiritual development in the 21st century.

KW - Unity, spirituality, Froebelian pedagogy, early childhood education and care, play

UR - https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/bloomsbury-handbook-to-friedrich-froebel-9781350323209/

M3 - Chapter

SN - 9781350323209

SP - 372

EP - 380

BT - The Bloomsbury Handbook to Friedrich Froebel

A2 - Bruce, Tina

A2 - Nishida, Yukiyo

A2 - Powell, Sacha

A2 - Wasmuth, Helge

A2 - Whinnett, Jane

PB - Bloomsbury

CY - London

ER -