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influenced the teaching of reading in schools and pushed for universal education. The importance of reading education today can be attributed to him.

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1632-1704 : John Locke (Very early Behaviorism) 

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1632-1704 : John Locke (Very early Behaviorism) 

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Locke influenced the idea of young children as rational learners, but also the rhetoric of 'blank slates'. Locke detailed the idea that children are rational and respond to positive praise. That they also learn best through examples and need positive examples through parents and adults etc...

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(An early constructionist/humanist) he makes it known that children are different than adults. He believed that children will be who they will be and approached their education naturally. He thought that hands-on learning was best.

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1746–1827 Pestalozzi introduces the notion of 'Child centered' teaching for young learners. 

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1746–1827 Pestalozzi introduces the notion of 'Child centered' teaching for young learners. 

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Pestalozzi was the theorist who really introduced the idea of each child being truly unique and that they learned through their own interest and lens. He also advocated for young learners to learn through material tangible resources and objects rather than word and lecture.

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Owens believed that teaching should be centered around young learners interest and should be facilitated with play and exploration. His work would be utilized in years to come when looking at play learning, and how children absorb and remember best.

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Frobel opened the first 'kindergarten', stating that education for early years students should be for the 'whole child' and that the connection and communication between home/parents and school/teacher must be strong. He also designed teacher training that emphasized the importance of observation and creating programs and activities based on the skill level and readiness of the child.

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Dewey influenced the beginnings of 'Emergent Curriculum' (Lesson planning that accounts for children's needs, skills, and interest). Believed children need to interact, explore and most importantly, learn by doing.

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1870-1952 : Maria Montessori / The Montessori Approach  

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1870-1952 : Maria Montessori / The Montessori Approach  

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The Montessori Approach outlines a 'child centered' learning environment where children explore resources and materials of their choice to learn. She further pushed the constructivists ideas that children build their knowledge and ideas and do not just mirror and repeat what is shown to them. Her work and schools have been incredibly influential across the world in the realm of education.

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Cook wrote 'The Play Way' which believed that doing was a better learning method than reading and listening, and that young students study best through play.

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1896 - 1934 : Lev Vygotsky (Early ideas of Cognitive Development)

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1896 - 1934 : Lev Vygotsky (Early ideas of Cognitive Development)

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He believed that the way children’s brains and thought processes develop has to do with their social interaction, an idea also known as sociocultural theory. Based on this idea, he suggests that culture plays a major role in the formation and development of specific abilities, like learning, memory, attention, and problem-solving. Vygotsky believed that children learn through scaffolding their skills; this meant a more capable member of the community/society would assist the child in completing tasks that were within or just above the child’s capability, which is also known as the zone of proximal development. Vygotsky emphasized collaboration and the implementation of mixed-age groupings of children to support knowledge/skill.

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1896-1980 : Jean Piaget (created the four stages of Cognitive Development)

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1896-1980 : Jean Piaget (created the four stages of Cognitive Development)

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Piaget established a theory of learning where children’s development is broken down into a series of stages (sensory-motor, preoperational, concrete operation). Piaget theorized that children learn through direct and active interaction with the environment. However, he was criticized because he didn’t use a diverse group of kids in his research. Some even concluded he underestimated the intelligence of children.

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He believed that children learn through behavior. That if children have a good experience due to their behavior, then most likely that behavior would repeat. That the opposite was also true, if there is a negative experience due to behavior, then they would be less likely to repeat said behavior. Skinner encouraged the use of reinforcements with children, to encourage positive behavior (via sanctions, rewards, etc...) that this would also discourage negative behavior in children, which would have no positive reinforcement. .

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1919 : Rudolf Steiner influences the Steiner Waldorf Education / Schools. (Anthroposophy)

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1919 : Rudolf Steiner influences the Steiner Waldorf Education / Schools. (Anthroposophy)

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Steiner believed children learned best in different ways depending on their development stage. When it comes to early years he believed children before the age of 6 learned best with roleplay/imitation and play. He inspired an approach to education know an Waldorf Education, which focuses on the whole holistic child. That learning should involve the head/mind, heart and hands (thinking, feeling and doing)

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1926 The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is founded (US Specific) 

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1926 The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is founded (US Specific) 

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The formation of a large non-profit that focuses on the quality of education and development services for children 0-8. In the 80's it began accrediting early childhood programs according to health/safety and education standards. (Other countries have their own accrediting bodies for early childhood).

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Believed in 8 stages of psychological development, these stages and his research on development are said to help both children become more self aware and to help parents/teachers to understand a child's personal differences in learning and that while children go through these stages, they do not always do it at the same time and and at the same pace. (In general he helped children gain agency in their learning, and helped to emphasize the importance the environment played in learning.

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1945 : Loris Malaguzzi & Reggio Emilia parent community establish the 'Reggio Emilia' approach. 

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1945 : Loris Malaguzzi & Reggio Emilia parent community establish the 'Reggio Emilia' approach. 

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A post WWII revamp of education in Italy that emphasized: An emergent curriculum that was child centered, parent and community involvement, and the classroom/environment as a third teacher.
At this time the book '100 Languages of children' was also in process, which depicted how children can learn through numerous different forms such as art, music, etc....

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1950's Abraham Maslow: Children's Hierarchy of Needs & Humanism 

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1950's Abraham Maslow: Children's Hierarchy of Needs & Humanism 

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When it comes to early years education, Maslows Hierarchy of needs helps us to identify the types of factors that can impact a students learning and lead to distraction and lack of focus. More specifically that if students are not getting their basic needs than they will struggle to focus and prioritize learning because their behavior will shift to focus on the needs that aren't being met. This leads instructors to be more observant and mindful of the needs of their students, and to try and note and find solutions for when needs are not being met. (Although impossible to do this for all students, it is a great resource for educators and anyone involved in helping another learn).

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1952 : The First 'Forest Kindergarten' is founded in Denmark

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1952 : The First 'Forest Kindergarten' is founded in Denmark

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Forest Kindergartens often focus on hands on learning, exploration, and building confidence in young learners. Forest Kindergartens involve a lot of time spent outdoors in nature. (Although similar, it is different from more modern 'forest schools' which are outside entirely and have gained traction as a sort of opponent to the rapid spread of digital learning, often voicing concerns about the life skills and self esteem of children kept in traditional classrooms).

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1956 Blooms Taxonomy is first introduced (later revised) 

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1956 Blooms Taxonomy is first introduced (later revised) 

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Bloom's Taxonomy is a tool often used by educators of all ages to discuss student development, assess students and overall to build cognitive skills in learners (leading to more complex ways of thinking). It can be used in early childhood education to differentiate lessons and activities in a way that engages and encourages/motivates young students. (Utilizing the affective, cognitive and sensory/motor domains)

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detailing how children can develop symbolic thinking, turn taking, problem solving skills etc... and that education is to facilitate children's intrinsic growth and not impart knowledge.

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1965: Headstart is founded (US Specific)

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1965: Headstart is founded (US Specific)

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Headstart's beginnings were pivotal in opening the discussions of socio-economic class and early years education with long term success in the US. The program quickly was able to show the importance of making preschool education more accessible to low income families, detailed how meeting the basic needs of a child could impact their learning/development and even led to research showing that families/mothers even benefited long term from the program.

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The School Development Program (in New Haven, supported by Yale Uni) was impactful for addressing the struggles of low-performing schools / students by addressing the social, emotional and academic needs of the whole student (in and out of school) instead of creating a program that focused predominantly on academics and improving test scores. The program started with just elementary schools, and assigned teams of parents, advisors, teachers etc... to work on improving their specific school/students. The program was very successful and would later help to inspire the realm of SEL and the care and acknowledgement of the unique experience of low income and/or minority students in schools.

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1970 HighScope Educational Research Foundation 

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1970 HighScope Educational Research Foundation 

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The foundation introduced a model of education where children should be guided by teachers through purposeful play to use their creative imaginations and interest to explore and interact fully with their learning. The aim was to better prepare young learners for the next stage of education and ensure they were eager and excited for learning.

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1970's : James Asher details the value of TPR or Total Physical Response. (Young ELL Students)

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1970's : James Asher details the value of TPR or Total Physical Response. (Young ELL Students)

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Asher modeled TPR to mimic a process young learners use when learning their native language. Where students will listen then respond with actions (Indicating they understand the language being used, and are absorbing the phrases and structures passively). Often used as a tool when learning a second language. It is considered a staple of teaching young ELL students.

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1970's Collaborative Learning starts to become more popular (constructivist)

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1970's Collaborative Learning starts to become more popular (constructivist)

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While the modern sense of collaborative learning goes back to Vygotsky's ZPD, the 70's was the period where it began to flourish, becoming a topic of research in universities. These studies would eventually show that Collaborative learning (a student centered technique) gives children a sense of autonomy in their learning even in early years can help to build their confidence and self esteem.

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1983 - Howard Gardner's theory of Multiple Intelligences

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1983 - Howard Gardner's theory of Multiple Intelligences

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Gardner theorized that individual people had unique intelligences that influenced the way they learned. With early years educators, this theory is used to acknowledge and understand how different children will have different preferred ways of learning.  (Multiple Intelligences is often associated with Flemings VARK Model, A Resource that lets teachers and students consider different 'learning types' and how that impact learning and resources. )
(Visual, Auditory, Read / Write, and/or Kinesthetic / Tactile)

He and Lev Vygotsky can arguably be seen as inspirations also behind differentiated learning.

Soviet psychologist

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1990's : SEL begins to expand with Yale Studies and those like Daniel Goleman. 

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1990's : SEL begins to expand with Yale Studies and those like Daniel Goleman. 

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Social Emotional Learning Developed in this period as a solution, groups of researchers across a number of different fields were determined to identify specific skills and abilities that students would need and could hone to succeed (both in and out of school). Initially Goleman identified 5 core areas of emotional intelligence: Self-awareness, Self Regulation, Motivation, Empathy, Social Skills. These were important to the later development of the CASEL wheel which is specific to academics and education. In early years, SEL might look like direct emphasis on sharing, curiosity, grit, optimism, etc....

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1999 Carol Tomlinson re-approaches Differentiated Learning 

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1999 Carol Tomlinson re-approaches Differentiated Learning 

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While not a completely new concept, in the 90's Tomlinson really solidified differentiated learning in the minds of many educators. Differentiated learning is one of the modern takes on tailoring and customizing lessons and activities to meet the needs of unique students and their learning ability / level.

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2000's George Siemens and Stephen Downes : The Connectivism pedagogy and continued development of collaborative learning 

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2000's George Siemens and Stephen Downes : The Connectivism pedagogy and continued development of collaborative learning 

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The rise of connectivism, often called the 'learning theory of the digital age', encourages learners to combine knowledge into communal networks of thoughts, theories, and information. It emphasizes the need for collaborative participation / sharing of information and how technology gives us more freedom and agency in our learning choices and ever growing opportunities.
Connectivism is mainly utilized in older age groups, but more recently can be seen in the resources and media utilized in elementary classes. While the youngest learners are often not yet contributing to the technological networks of knowledge, they could be considered to be being prepared for it through activities such as class tablet projects.

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2010 - Psychology and Cognitive Research regarding good mood (enjoyment) and memory retention / learning outcomes 

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2010 - Psychology and Cognitive Research regarding good mood (enjoyment) and memory retention / learning outcomes 

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Around this time period several different studies were conducted to asses the ability of your mood or level of enjoyment, to impact your memory or retention of something you learned.  These studies have helped to reinforce what many early years theorist have believed for years. That when learning is fun and engaging, we learn more and remember better.

One researcher has explained " Having fun and being excited about learning increases brain-activity of neurons that use Oxytocin (pleasure hormone), Dopamine (reward, motivation, learning, senses, thinking hormone), and Norepinephrine (energizing, attention hormone) which improve learning and memory."
Shukla, A. (2019). Why Fun, Curiosity & Engagement Improves Learning: Mood, Senses, Neurons, Arousal, Cognition

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2014 FranklinCovey implements Leader In Me in lighthouse schools (Sparks debate about corporate involvement in public schools)

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2014 FranklinCovey implements Leader In Me in lighthouse schools (Sparks debate about corporate involvement in public schools)

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A program that involves a school-wide transformation, it aims to motivate and empower learners with leadership and life skills (7 Habits for Happy Kids) and begins in Kindergarten. The program was implemented in a number of districts as a philosophy rather than a curriculum and was woven into every aspect of school. The results of LIM in schools is very mixed, with some districts even forcing the program out through teacher and parent pushback.
Despite this, the program is an example of how schools and districts are adapting and changing in the 21st century.

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2009-2017  Early Learning Acts/Initiatives (US Specific)

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2009-2017  Early Learning Acts/Initiatives (US Specific)

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During the span of Obama's presidency a number of acts, challenges, and initiatives were directed specifically at the improvement of Early Childhood Education in the USA.

Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge 2011
Head Start Funding increased 2011-14
Strong Start for America's Children Act in 2013
Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership 2014
Preschool Development Grants 2014
e Every Student Succeeds Act 2015
Head Start Performance Standards Improved/updated 2017

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2020-2021 Debates & research begin around whether virtual learning is suitable for young learners. 

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2020-2021 Debates & research begin around whether virtual learning is suitable for young learners. 

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Some research claims the period of Covid / enforced Virtual Learning led to parents acknowledging the importance of  early years education.

Likewise recent studies claim that children of early years who spent this period online experienced delays in speech and language / communication skills. But these studies are all very recent and limited.