Browsing by Subject "Rakenteluleikki"

Friedrich Froebel (1782-1852) is a founder of the first kindergarten. Froebelian approach has affected greatly in Finnish kindergarten pedagogy. Early on Froebel understood the signifi-cancy of early childhood and play. Part of his pedagogy Froebel invented six gifts which are logically advancing set of construction blocks. Because Froebel has a significant role in finn-ish early childhood education it is important to study Froebels pedagogy, especially the role of block play in todays early childhood education. The aim of this study is to look at the role of block play in the beginning of the Finnish kindergarten tradition and also study the role of block play in present-day. One kindergarten group in metropolitan area participated the study. The group consisted of 12 two- to four-year-old children. The study was made together with the Kindergarten Muse-um, which provided us the Froebelian set of construction blocks. Block play was videotaped. The study was done used by qualitative methods through observation. Video material was analysed using methods of content analysis. The role of block play was significant in the beginning of the kindergarten. Block play was a method to teach each subject the group was handling. The kindergarten group was excited about the Froebelian block play especially when using the set of giant blocks. Block play de-veloped mathematical thinking, observation skills and appreciation of beaty. Early childhood curriculum (2022) mentions block play as a method of practicing mathematics and technolo-gy. The role of block play has changed through time being in the centre of curriculum to one option to choose when it is time to play.