Special Collections & Archives

Snapshot from the Archives: Froebel's Mother Songs

This Sunday, 10th March, is Mother's Day (also known as Mothering Sunday) here in the UK. So it seems an appropriate moment to reflect on the legacy of 19th century educationalist Friedrich Froebel, whose work inspired the foundation of the institution that eventually became Froebel College - now one of the constituent colleges of Roehampton University. The Library holds the archives of the College and of the Froebel Trust, in The Froebel Archive for Childhood Studies. These collections contain a wealth of historical artefacts and documents relating to the history of the Froebel movement, including original sets of Froebel Gifts, the College's administrative records, and samples of former students' work (such as these nature notebooks, featured in a former Snapshot post). 

One of Froebel's pioneering beliefs was that an infant's interaction with the mother is crucial to their early development. He focussed on the mother as a child's first, informal educator, and subsequently developed educational tools for mothers to train for this role. Among these is the famous book of Mother Songs, a collection of illustrated verses for the mother to share with her child. The intention was to aid the child's physical development, including dexterity of limbs and fingers and senses, while playing the accompanying games.  

Amongst the Froebelian treasures in the University Library's Archives are original copies of the English translations of these charming books, but you don't have to visit the Library to read them. Many items from the Froebel Archive have been digitised and can be found in our Digital Collections - including the Mother Songs, Games and Stories developed by Froebel himself. You can read his own explanation of  the Songs in his introduction to the book. 

Another of Froebel's pioneering developments was the Gifts. These toys were designed to engage and inspire the individual at every stage of childhood, with the First Gift being a ball on a string, which the mother would give to the child in their first months. Models of the Gifts can be seen in the Archive, by appointment; below is an illustration of the First Gift done by a former Froebel student many decades ago:

We even hold a beautifully illustrated  edition of the Songs in Japanese, including this version of Pat-a-Cake:

Froebel set great store by nurturing a child's interaction with nature, as reflected in several songs and games designed for outdoor enjoyment. This one, for instance, celebrates motherhood both human and avian:
The Bird's Nest

There is also this alternative translation held in the Archive: 

In the Hedge just where it's best
Little Bird has built her nest
There two tiny eggs she lays;
Then she sits there many days.
Now they are hatched, and we can hear
Two tiny birds cry "Mother dear!
Peep peep peep peep!
We love you; peep!"

The Songs inevitably reflect the historical times in which they were written, a mostly bygone era. However, here's one that everyone can practice right here on campus, whether or not you are a mother:

Beckoning the Chickens

Beckon the chickens! They'll draw near

Say "I'm glad to see you here!"

Pictured above: an earlier translation of Beckoning the Chickens, and some of our happy Growhampton hens on campus. 

Happy Mother's Day to mother hens everywhere!