Final answer:
The Child-Centered Education Movement, led by figures such as Patty Smith Hill and Lucy Sprague Mitchell, is credited with laying the groundwork for Early Childhood Education by focusing on the interests and developmental stages of children.
Step-by-step explanation:
The movement that grew out of the child study movement and eventually launched the wider field of Early Childhood Education (ECE) through the leadership of Patty Smith Hill, and Lucy Sprague Mitchell amongst others is: b) Child-Centered Education Movement.
Early Childhood Education is a crucial stage in the development of individuals, and having a positive early learning experience lays a foundational stone for later learning experiences. The Child-Centered Education Movement was grounded in the belief that education should be based on the interests and needs of children rather than rigid formal instruction.
Individuals like Patty Smith Hill and Lucy Sprague Mitchell were instrumental in spearheading reforms that would come to define modern approaches to early childhood education, stressing the importance of developmental stages and the unique potential of each child.