Dr Lynn McNair is Head of Cowgate Under Fives Centre in Edinburgh, Scotland, and is a Senior Teaching Fellow at the University of Edinburgh.  Lynn has more than 40 years experience working in Early Years Education and was awarded an OBE for services to Early Education in 2009.  Lynn is a trained Froebelian, attaining her certificate at the Froebel Institute, Roehampton University, London, UK. Lynn is the Programme Director Froebel in Childhood Practice (U of E) course and is the Pathway Co-ordinator of the newly developed MSc Education (Early Childhood Practice and Froebel).  Lynn regularly travels the globe sharing her knowledge on Froebel’s principles and philosophy.   She is well published and is an award-winning author   Finally, Lynn would say her passion for egalitarianism, emancipation, democracy and a belief that children are rich, active, resourceful beings came from being a mother to Kurt and Mischa; and what she learned as she observed them playing freely as children.  This way of being with children, trusting in them in their abilities and capabilities is where she puts her energy into her work with children today.