Early Childhood Education History Timeline

By DSmith1990

  • The First Picture Book

    John Comenius wrote the first picture book for children called Orbis Pictus or "The World in Pictures." He also thought that early experiences formed what a child would be like. John Comenius noted the similarities between chilren and plants, saying "a young plant can be planted, transplanted, pruned and bent this way or that. When it has become a tree these processes are impossible."

  • Robert Owen

    Robert Owen thought that environments determined children's behaviors, beliefs, and achievements. He also believed that society can shape children's character and that a well educated youth could build a new society.

  • Kindergarten

    Fredrich Froebel also compared children to seeds that are planted and grows into a mature, fruit-producing plant. Therefore the teacher is the "gardener." Froebel then came up with the term kindergarten, or "garden of children." Fredrich also came up with the idea that children learn best when given "gifts" or "occupations" and learn through play.

  • Erik Erikson's Eight Stages of Life

    -Infancy(0-1.5) Trust vs. Mistrust; Hope
    -Early Childhood(1.5-3) Autonomy vs. Shame; Will
    -Play Age(3-5) Initiative vs. Guilt; Purpose
    -School Age(5-12) Industry vs. Inferiority; Competency
    -Adolescence(12-18) Ego Identity vs. Role Confusion; Fidelity
    -Young Adult(18-40) Intimacy vs. Isolation; Love
    -Adulthood(40-65) Generativity vs. Stagnation; Care
    -Maturity(65+) Ego Integrity vs. Despair; Wisdom

  • Howard Gardner's Nine Abilities of Intelligence

    -Naturalist Intelligence "Nature Smart"
    -Musical Intelligence "Muscial Smart"
    -Logical-Mathematical Intelligence "Number/Reasoning Smart"
    -Existential Intelligence
    -Interpersonal Intelligence "People Smart"
    -Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence "Body Smart"
    -Linguistic Intelligence "Word Smart"
    -Intra-personal Intelligence "Self Smart"
    -Spatial Intelligence "Picture Smart"

  • Sputnik

    After the cold war, The Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the world's first satellite. Out of fear of world superiority, the US passed the National Defense Education Act (NDEA) which provided federal funding for science, technology, engineering, math, and foreign language education. This shaped much of the education standards still around today.

  • The EOA

    The Economic Opportunity Act was made to promote the health, education and general welfare of people with low socioeconomic status in 1964. The EOA provided for the start of Head Start in 1965. In 1981, the EOA was updated to the Head Start Act. Now Head Start is one of the longest running programs in the US.

  • NCLB

    No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 continues the standards made by the National Defense Eduation Act. "All 50 states have standards that specify what children should know and do." Some argue against standardized testing and would rather use "authentic means of assessment."