What was Friedrich Froebel best known for in early childhood education?

Friedrich Froebel is best known for inventing the concept of Kindergarten and promoting play-based learning. He believed that early childhood education should revolve around the natural developmental stages of children, emphasizing the importance of play as a critical component of learning. Froebel's approach recognized children's innate curiosities and strengths, and he designed educational activities and materials (like his famous "Froebel gifts," which were educational toys) to support children's exploration and creativity. By creating Kindergarten, Froebel provided a structured environment where children could learn through play, social interaction, and hands-on experiences, laying the foundation for modern early childhood education practices that value the role of play in learning.