Episode 17: A Froebelian Path in Bewildering Times

This special episode of the Froebel Trust Podcast was recorded at the Trust's 2025 Conference, Inspiring Early Learning.

During this episode Presenter Colin Kelly hears from Jane Whinnett as she presents her keynote speech, a Froebelian Path in Bewildering Times.

Through Jane's speech, this episode explores Froebel's ideas, the resurgence of academic interest in his teaching, and the relevance of Froebelian principles and practice today.  

"[Froebel's] views of training and women becoming educators was ridiculed in his time and yet these ideas have become foundations of current early childhood education and care today."

A transcript of this episode is available at: froebel.org.uk/training-and-resources/podcast 

Guests appearing in this episode:

Jane Whinnett MBE started studying Froebel in 2005 at the University of Roehampton. She was previously the head teacher of two Edinburgh Nursery Schools and now tutors at the University of Edinburgh where she contributes to two courses: Froebel in Childhoos Practice and MSc Education: Early Childhood Practice and Froebel pathway.

Jane is also an Endorsed Froebel Travelling Tutor who teaches the Froebel Trust's Short Courses and Online Course. In 2019, Jane received an MBE from HRH The Prince of Wales for services to early education. She and her co-authors were also awarded the 2021 Nursery World Professional Book Award for Putting Storytelling at the Heart of Early Childhood Practice [Bruce, McNair and Whinnett Eds. 2020, Routledge]. 

During Episode 17, Jane refers to the following resources and courses for educators, including:

Courses:

Froebel in Childhood Practice Course at the University of Edinburgh

MSc Education: Early Childhood Practice and Froebel pathway at the University of Edinburgh

Froebel Certificate in Early Childhood at the University of Roehampton.

Early Childhood Studies (MA) at the University of Roehampton

Articles,books and resources:

Bruce, T., (2021) Friedrich Froebel A Critical Introduction to key Themes and Ideas London: Bloomsbury

Bruce, T., McNair, L., Whinnett, J., (2023) Putting Storytelling at the Heart of Early Childhood Practice Abingdon: Routledge

Bruce, T., (2023) Empowering learning: play, symbols and creativity London: Froebel Trust

Colliles, S., Play and Inclusion https://www.froebel.org.uk/about-us/the-power-of-play/play-and-inclusion

Imray, S., Thomson, T., and Whinnett, J., (2023) A Froebelian approach to sewing with young children London: Froebel Trust

Lilley, I. M., (1967)  Friedrich Froebel A Selection from his Writings London: Cambridge University Press

Louis, S., (2022) A Froebelian approach to observing young children London Froebel Trust

Manning-Morton, J., (2024) From Birth to Three An Early Years Educator's Handbook Abingdon: Routledge

May, H., (2006) 'Being Froebelian': An Antipodean analysis of the history of advocacy and early childhood in History of Education, 35(2) pp.245-262

McNair, L.J., Learning from our children The story of Eilidh in Bruce, T., Nishida, Y., Powell, S., Wasmuth, H., and Whinnett, J.,(eds) (2024) Bloomsbury Handbook to Friedrich Froebel London: Bloomsbury

McNair, L J., and Powell, S. (2020) Friedrich Froebel: a path least trodden. Early Child Development and Care, 191(7–8), pp. 1175–1185. 

Moorhouse, P. (2021) A Froebelian approach to the wonder of woodwork London: Froebel Trust

Osgood, J., Archer, N.J., Albin-Clark, J., & Mohandas, S., (2024) Bewildering early childhood 'pioneers', Pedagogy, Culture & Society, 32:4, 875-883, DOI: 10.1080/14681366.2024.2355096

Parker, L.,(2017) A Froebelian approach to exploring clay London: Froebel Trust

Pascal, C., Bertram, T., Cave, S., Bruce, T., Lyndon, H., Bennett, S., & Denham, A., (2024) Praxeological action research: a Froebelian approach for professional development, flourishment and wellbeing, European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 32:6. 1059-1078, DOI: 10.1080/1350293X.2024.2427849

Sakr, M., & Kaur, V., (2024) Re-imagining the Froebelian influence on early childhood education as a dynamic and ever-changing web of encounter, Pedagogy, Culture & Society, 32:4, 923-940, DOI: 10.1080/14681366.2024.2355092

Snaza, N., (2013) Bewildering Education, Journal of Curriculum and Pedagogy, 10:1, 38-54, DOI: 10.1080/15505170.2013.783889

Stewart, N., Hope brings change in Bruce, T., Nishida, Y., Powell, S., Wasmuth, H., Whinnett, J., Bloomsbury Handbook to Friedrich Froebel London: Bloomsbury

Tovey, H., (2nd ed)(2017) Bringing the Froebel Approach to your Early Years Practice

Wasmuth, H., (2022) What does in mean to be Froebelian in the 21st century? An essay in Global Education Review 9 (2) p23

Whinnett, J., (2024) Introduction in Bruce, T., Nishida, Y., Powell, S., Wasmuth, H., Whinnett, J., Bloomsbury Handbook to Friedrich Froebel London: Bloomsbury

Whinnett, J., (2020) A Froebelian Approach to FrFroebel's Gifts and block play today London: Froebel Trust

Visit the Froebel Trust website to access the free resources mentioned in this episode and find out more about the Froebel Short Courses.

If you'd like to contact us with questions about this podcast or suggestions for future episodes, you can email office@froebeltrust.org.uk