Abstract
This study aimed to clarify the reform process of the Akashi Plan for Kindergarten conducted at the Kobe University Faculty of Education Kindergarten during the 1950s by analyzing the research and implementation records. The results showed that the key to this reform was the development of a curriculum designed to optimize each child’s unique potential. This is demonstrated through the research topic on developing a curriculum that embraces the individuality of each child. It is manifested in the conception and implementation of early childhood education methods consisting of the following: (1) an early childhood education structure centered around free play, (2) case studies of observational records of free play, (3) the creation and revision of personalized curricula that address individual differences, and (4) an integration of personalized curricula with the standardized curriculum set forth by the Akashi Plan for the Kindergarten.
