Here at the Frog Hollow Reggio-Inspired Learning Centre we’re always looking for ways to spread the word about the many amazing benefits of the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education. The Reggio Emilia approach has inspired many around the world since its inception after WW2. It is not a teaching method per se, but an approach to learning.
We see a big part of our role as helping people learn more about Reggio Emilia and to inspire parents, educators and the community to re-imagine how we educate our children. We are inspired by Reggio Emilia and we hope you will be too. Here are a few Reggio-inspired ideas that we think capture the main principles:
A capable child is a curious child. By seeking answers and testing out their ideas, children find hundreds and hundreds of ways of expressing themselves and experiencing the world around them. Acknowledging they are capable of exploration and creating environments to encourage this, creates curious, confident and joyful children.
Children have a right to a beautiful environment. By beautiful we don’t just mean aesthetically, but also an environment that inspires the senses and adds depth and fluidity to their activities – an environment inspired by the natural world and all the possibilities it has to offer.
Children can participate in building community. Children are social beings and their energy, love and ideas can contribute to how our communities and culture are constructed, if we just listen and invite them to the conversation with the same respect we show adults.
Don’t be afraid of what you don’t know. For parents and those who work with children, being all-knowledgeable is not as important as being curious, kind and available. The Reggio approach believes we all should think deeply and question constantly, learn collaboratively and share our experiences and conclusions.
Observe, remember, reflect. Working alongside children, observing how they explore, listening their ideas, will allow parents and educators to stop leading and join children in the process of learning. As adults, we could choose to observe and document what we see and then share our reflections as an equal participant
Have we piqued your interest? Click here to learn more.