What Does it mean to be
Reggio Emilia inspired?

Reggio Emilia is a municipality in Northern Italy. After WWII its’ citizens wanted to rebuild with a desire for societal change that included education. Literally out of the ruble of the war the Infant and Toddler Centers of Reggio were created by the parents and citizens with its’ youngest members, the children, in mind. Psychologist Loris Malaguzzi collaborated and helped guide what is now known as the Reggio Emilia philosophy.

Here are three core concepts from the Reggio approach we will focus on:

The Image of the Child:
All Children are viewed as competent, curious, and creative having natural ability to observe their world and form theories about it through a sense of wonder. Teachers support children by joining the act of wondering often by asking open ended questions such as, “I wonder why, what do you notice, etc.”

Relationships provide essential opportunities for learning:
Collaboration and cooperation are intentional and the concept of connection to everything is supported. Children come to understand and experience how their relationships with each other, teachers, their family, and their environment connect them to community. This can be understood and experienced when children are given opportunities to be in nature, as an example.

The Hundred Languages of Children:
Children communicate and express themselves through many languages. Through art, dancing, sculpting, dramatic play, writing, a child will express their thoughts and feelings. When you come to Lessons From The Heart Preschool you will notice a wall hanging with the poem by Loris Malaguzzi entitled, The Hundred Languages of Children.