Psychology Timeline

  • John Amos Comenius

    John Amos Comenius, known as the Father of Modern Education and was the first to recognize that the play of childhood was learning, produced the first children's picture book, "The World Illustrated".
  • Jean-Jacques

    Philosopher Jean-Jacques Roussueau states that a child's mode of thinking is different than an adult and they learn through hands-on experience.
  • Johan Pestalozzi

    Johann Pestalozzi established what is considered to the first school to teach preschool age children.
  • Children's Garden

    Children's Garden (Kindergarten) started in Germany by Friedrich Froebel.
  • Nursery School

    The Nursery School for Children of Poor Women was opened in cooperation with Children's Hospital of New York City.
  • Public Kindergarten

    First public school kindergarten started in St. Louis.
  • Hull House

    Hull House, a settlement house for immigrants, establishes a day nursery.
  • Children's House

    Maria Montesorri opens the Children's House in Rome.
  • NAEYC Founded

    National Association for the Education of Young Children is founded. Now over 100,000 members and 400 affiliates.
  • ESEA

    The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) is created in 1965 to help low-income families to get educations. It benefits schools in buying new and better materials and updating facilities. It also created school lunch programs to help kids get a meal for the day.
  • Kindercare

    The first Kindercare center is opened.
  • San Francisco

    San Francisco becomes the first large city to require developers to set aside space of funds for child care space.
  • Child Care

    Child Care and Development Grant is enacted.
  • Children Campaign

    The Stand for Children Campaign begins, initiated by the Children's Defense Fund.
  • Military Child Care

    Operation Military Child Care is started to support the child care needs of parents who are activated and deployed.
  • Preschool for All

    President Obama called on Congress to expand access to high-quality preschool to every child in America, called The Preschool for All initiative.