When you are looking to select a preschool for your kid to attend, keep in mind that there are different educational philosophies to select from, even at a young age. If you prefer a setting where the kid is viewed as capable of steering and directing their learning process, the Reggio Emilia approach might be a method you want to contemplate.

Started in the town of Reggio Emilia in northern Italy, this preschool program focuses on making good citizens. Kids learn through exploring ideas and through project-based activities. For instance, these programs may incorporate gardening to work together to learn about how plants grow and how food nourishes the body. Additionally, Reggio Emilia aims to document learning throughout the year with photos, videos, and observations for review.

The Reggio Emilia approach is a preschool philosophy that uses four key principles to concentrate on a kid’s organic development. The approach is both kid-centered and directed, taking the philosophy that learning must make sense to the learner (even the youngest learners) to be efficient and meaningful. A kid’s point of view is completely respected, and the learner is encouraged to follow their educational path. It is believed that a kid’s driving idea of curiosity, along with their potential, will spark an interest in learning, enabling them to learn. It is that curiosity that must ultimately set the path and the direction that any learning will follow.

Core Reggio Emilia Principles

The Reggio Emilia philosophy is predicated upon the following set of core principles:

Kids must have some say over what they learn; additionally, the senses play a big role in the learning process.

Kids engage with their senses to help them learn and fully process something.

Kids are encouraged to interact with other kids and explore the world through content items and relationships.

Kids must always be encouraged to express themselves and be given infinite means and chances to do so.

What to Expect

Parental involvement is invited and encouraged. Many parents volunteer in the class and employ many of the methods found in the class at home. A mainstay of the Reggio Emilia philosophy is that learners must study in a comfortable environment that makes them feel at home.

When it comes to actual learning, various contents and vehicles are used — clay, paint, and dramatic play. Individual and class projects can last for weeks and sometimes months. These projects let learners learn about many different facets of whatever it is they are studying.

Essential Terms for Parents

Important terms to know if you are considering or if your kid is enrolled in a Reggio Emilia school:

Documentation is a way for kids to display what they have learned at school. It could be a project that a kid has created or a series of drawings that have been created throughout the school year. Documentation is a way to show a kid’s progress in learning.

Co-construction is the method used to expand a kid’s learning while working with another kid or other kids. Co-construction allows for dialogue and collaboration between the learners and the educator.

Flowcharts are the system used to record curriculum planning and assessment. They record progress step-by-step and are designed to record the past, present, and future.

Portfolios are a collection of a kid’s work over a designated period.