Introduction to the reggio emilia approach
The Reggio Emilia Approach is a philosophy of learning that originated in the small town of Reggio Emilia, Italy after World War II. The founding father of this unique approach is a man named Loris Malaguzzi. He believed that young children are capable of much more than previously thought- being both active and competent in learning and understanding. With this mentality, Malaguzzi created a philosophy of learning based on the interest of children that incorporated large projects, documentation, and active exploration. By providing the children with an environment full of artistic, musical, natural, sensory appealing materials, a child's absorption of knowledge begins. Malaguzzi believed that children learned best by discovering this world through all of their senses by asking questions and further exploring these questions with teacher documentation and facilitation. These are the bases to all things done through Reggio Emilia. This philosophy is most relevant in the social development area of our curriculum. One of the main components to the Reggio philosophy is socialization between the children and teachers. This component is best expressed through group activities that help to engage the children together. There is more derails about how this approach is expressed within this curriculum under Social Development.
Below is a video produced by Rye Presbyterian Nursery School that encompasses a visual look at the Reggio Emilia Approach and how one wonderful school puts the approach to use.