Chapter 1: Fundamentals of Montessori Teaching · Historical Context of Early Childhood Teaching
History of Formalization (ECE)
Jump to lesson
Ch 1: Fundamentals of Montessori Teaching
Historical Context of Early Childhood Teaching
About Maria Montessori
Theories of Child Development & Montessori's Observation on Children
Principles of Montessori's Teaching
Ch 2: Essentials of Montessori Teaching
Learning Outcomes
Practical Life
Science & Mathematics
Digital Life & Montessori Settings
Art, Reading, Writing & Printables
A Brief History of Formalization of ECE
The formalisation of Early Childhood Education began in the **19th century**, with the establishment of **Kindergarten schools** — a model pioneered by Friedrich Fröbel in Germany. From there, kindergartens spread rapidly across Europe, North America, Brazil, Jamaica, China, Mexico, and India.
Each region adapted the model to its culture, but the core idea remained constant: young children learn best through purposeful play, structured environments, and trained adults who guide rather than dictate.
Early Childhood Education in 20th Century Russia
One of the most important early state-sponsored efforts in ECE came from the **Russian Federation** (then part of the Soviet Union). The state established a publicly funded network of nurseries and preschools designed to support working parents while ensuring uniform quality of care.
This was the **first state-sponsored ECE program** of its scale, and it became a reference point for many later national systems.
Tip: use ← / → keys to move between lessons.