Final answer:
Friedrich Froebel's philosophy of early childhood education emphasizes learning through purposeful play and hands-on activities, which aid in the holistic development of children.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that accurately reflects Friedrich Froebel's philosophy of early childhood education is D) Learning through purposeful play and hands-on activities. Friedrich advocated for educational environments where children could grow and learn through play and engagement with the world around them. This approach supports children's social, emotional, and cognitive development. Froebel, often considered the father of kindergarten, believed that structured play and creative activities were fundamental in nurturing a child's curiosity and innate desire to learn about their environment.
Observation of toddlers playing in the sand, for example, can illustrate how they explore and discover new concepts through sensory experiences and manipulation of objects. Through such play, they can learn about spatial relationships, physics principles like cause and effect, and develop their motor skills, all critical aspects of their growth and understanding.