A Curriculum of Free Play? A Multi-sited Analysis of the History of a National Curriculum in Danish Early Childhood Education/¿UN CURRICULUM ACERCA DEL JUEGO LIBRE? UN ANÁLISIS MULTISITUADO DE LA HISTORIA DE UN CURRICULUM NACIONAL EN LA EDUCACIÓN INFANTIL DANESA

In 2004 the first national curriculum was passed in the area of early childhood education (ECE) in Denmark. Opponents to the curriculum have argued that it introduces school-like thinking in the area of ECE, making it oriented towards particular goals. On the contrary, proponents argue that the curriculum embraces the natural child and should be seen as a continuation of a child centered tradition. As such, much of the discussion seems to reflect an interest in the intentions of the actors behind the curriculum and whether the philosophy of these actors is in accordance with a child centered philosophy of the past. A philosophy often seen as stemming from Friedrich Frobel's vision of a Kindergarten in the early 19th century and more broadly drawing on the ideas of a natural child formulated by Rousseau in the 18th century.