What is the Reggio Emilia Approach?
The Reggio Emilia Approach is an educational philosophy and approach that originated in the Italian municipality of Reggio Emilia in the 1940s This innovative and holistic approach to early childhood education is based upon the belief that all children are competent, capable, and creative and should be supported in learning through meaningful experiences with their environment. The Reggio Emilia approach values the child’s unique abilities and interests, and places a strong emphasis on community involvement in the learning process.
The Reggio Emilia approach celebrates the role of the teacher as a facilitator of learning, rather than as a traditional decision-maker. This pedagogical approach focuses on collaboration between teachers, children, parents, and the community, and emphasizes the importance of democratic principles. Reggio Emilia is also known for its use of a multi- -disciplinary approach to learning, including creative arts, science, languages, and literature, along with problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
The Reggio Emilia approach has been widely adopted around the world and its principles are embraced in many different educational settings. It has been highly acclaimed for its distinctive principles and its focus on the value of the teacher-child relationship, as well as its emphasis on the value of collaboration. To this day, the Reggio Emilia approach remains one of the most popular and successful educational philosophies in the world.
Examples of the Reggio Emilia Approach from Around the World
1. USA – The Reggio Emilia philosophy has a long history in the United States and is currently embraced by many early childhood education programs, such as the Creative Kids preschools in California and Colorado. This program has been in operation since 1984 and follows the Reggio approach, which places a strong emphasis on promoting the natural development, creativity, and self-expression of the children enrolled.
2. Canada – Canada is home to several early childhood education programs that follow the Reggio Emilia approach. These include the Bright Start preschool in Toronto, which uses the Reggio approach in an effort to “foster a sense of respect, value, and discovery” in the children they serve.
3. Australia – The Reggio Emilia approach is popular in Australia’s early childhood settings. The Goodstart Early Learning Center in Perth, for instance, uses the Reggio approach as part of their project-based and curiosity driven program.
4. UK – The Reggio Emilia approach has been embraced in a number of British early childhood learning centers. The Kingscourt School in London, for example, promotes the Reggio Emilia approach as part of their “good practice” in the classroom.
5. Japan – The Kagoshima Prefectural Board of Education in Japan has adopted the Reggio Emilia approach as part of their educational philosophy. The curriculum focuses on discussions and experiments related to issues such as nature and culture, and the learning environment is designed to promote collaboration and dialogue among the students.